Comcast to Televise Glenbrook North Band in London New Year's Parade

There's some good news for those who want to see Glenbrook North's marching band on New Year's Day, but can't make the trip across the Atlantic Ocean to see them perform.

Comcast has announced they will televise live coverage of the band during the 2012 London, England New Year's Day Parade. However, you'll have to be awake bright and early. Coverage of the event will begin at 5:45 a.m. because of the time difference.

Subscribers can see the event, commercial-free, on Comcast XFINITY Channel 101.

"Our Glenbrook North High School band is marching in the London New Year's Day Parade and I don't want the students, parents and others that won't be in London for the event to miss it," Northbrook Village Trustee A.C. Buehler said.

Glenbrook North Band Director Rich Chapman said in a release that he is excited his students get to attend the event.

"The Glenbrook North marching band has a long tradition of excellence," Chapman said.

A famous connection spurred invitation

Earlier this year, in March, Winston Churchill’s great grandson, Duncan Sandys, former Lord Mayor of Westminster and a descendant of Churchill, traveled to Northbrook to .

Wearing a red velvet ceremonial robe trimmed in fur, Sandys joined band members and parents at a gathering at the high school when he invited them.

There are about 160 students in the school's band program, and each year about 80 to 100 of them sign up for such trips to perform.

Not the first time they've been overseas

According to Chapman, the marching band also has a lengthy history of traveling in the past. Prior groups have also performed in Ireland, Scotland, Austria, Italy and Norway.

In order to finance this year's trip to Europe, each band member had to raise about $3,000. More than half-a-million people are expected to line the two mile parade route.

Over 10,000 performers from 20 different countries will participate in the event.

London will also host the 2012 Winter Olympic Games. Additionally, the parade is the first event of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, which commemorates her 60 years as the country's queen.

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