SFA Lumberjack Marching Band performed in London New Year's Parade
The Stephen F. Austin State University's Lumberjack Marching
Band took "Boldest Sound from the Oldest Town" to the 2013 London New
Year's Day Parade & Festival on January 1, 2013.
Members of the Lumberjack Marching Band led the
27th annual New Year's Day Parade down the streets from Piccadilly Circle to
Trafalgar Square in London. The band was directed by drum major Dwight Watson
of Wiley. In addition to marching in the parade, the band performed in a
concert in Cadogan Hall, toured the Royal Naval College and the Royal
Observatory, and visited the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey.
Deputy Lord Lieutenant Roger Bramble,
representing Queen Elizabeth II, traveled to SFA in 2011 from London to present
the official invitation to the band in person. Each fall, the Lieutenancy
decides upon a select number of groups that it wishes to visit in the United
States in connection with London's New Year's Day Parade. Bramble was
accompanied to SFA by Robert Bone, executive director of the
parade. "You came to our attention because everybody has told us that
you are one of the finest marching bands in the country," Bramble said
during his visit, which was punctuated with lively musical performances and
enthusiastic applause from band members.
Accepting the invitation on behalf of the
Lumberjack Marching Band was Dr. David W. Campo, director. "I am so
thrilled we'll be able to offer this opportunity for our students to travel
abroad and see London," he said. "It is also very exciting to bring
some international recognition to the university, which has been so supportive
of the band program for so many years."
Campo took about 300 members of the marching
band to participate in the 27th annual parade, which is watched by more than
600,000 spectators and televised to 280 million people around the world. More
than 20 different countries will be represented in the parade and associated
concert performances.
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