Portland-area high school ensemble will become first Oregon band to participate in the London New Year’s Day Parade
The Glencoe High School band is heading to London for the new year.
The band, which includes 44 Hillsboro students, will become the first Oregon band to participate in the London New Year’s Day Parade, according to a report from KOIN 6.
The London New Year’s Day Parade will begin at 4 a.m. Pacific time and will feature more than 70 groups.
The band’s director, Benjamin Adams, told KOIN 6 that it had taken hard work to get to the point of being able to march the length of the parade route.
“We had some rehearsals where it’s just pouring down rain as we’re practicing our marching fundamentals to get ready for the stamina it takes to take the parade route, because it’s almost two miles long,” Adams told the TV station.
The Glencoe High School band is no stranger to accolades. Among other things, the band was a Grand Floral Parade Gold Award recipient in 2024 and 2025 and also played last year at Carnegie Hall.
“I’ve never been overseas,” one unnamed student told KOIN 6. “So this is a big deal. I’ve never expected anything like this.”
