LONDON, England — Ticker tape, fire batons and a banner of kelly green to open the 2020 London New Year’s Day Parade came courtesy of Marshall University’s Marching Thunder Band.
The more than 100 members of the band who traveled from West Virginia to London were among the more than 5,000 performers marching the two-mile route in front of an estimated audience of 600,000 on Wednesday along with many more watching worldwide.
The Marching Thunder was at the front of the parade.
Song selections, under the direction of Dr. Adam Dalton, director of bands in Marshall’s School of Music, included Alabama’s “Mountain Music” and John Denver’s “Country Roads.”
The Marching Thunder’s performance in London’s New Year’s Day Parade@marshallubands #MarshallUFamily #HappyNewYear #LNYDP pic.twitter.com/r2uNa8ry1y
— Marshall University (@marshallu) January 1, 2020
“Thank you bringing such joy to us in the performance there,” one parade commentator said. “What a fabulous start to the parade.”
Prior to the parade, the band performed on “BBC Breakfast.”
Marshall University Marching Band are ready for @bbcbreakfast #lnydp #lovelondon #NewYearsDay #parade #wednesdaymotivation @marshallu @marshallubands pic.twitter.com/IF1fTryi3X
— LNYDP (@Lnydp) January 1, 2020
The Marching Thunder was selected for participation the London New Year’s Day Parade after a global search of marching bands.
The band previously performed internationally in Rome.
The group returns to West Virginia on Sunday, Jan. 5.