FORT MYERS, Fla. — Representatives of the New Year's Parade in London, England visited Southwest Florida on Monday to invite the Fort Myers High School Band to perform at their festivities in 2023.
Campus, district and city leaders including Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson were also in attendance for a short ceremony following the conclusion of the school day.
The consortium from the United Kingdom included the Hon. Steven Summers, Senior Patron and the former Lord Mayor of Westminster, and Robert C. Bone, the parade's Executive Director.
The Green Wave has appeared twice before at the parade, in 2007 and 2017. But band director Lederian Townsend says each opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many of the kids.
"What an opportunity they have to go out and show the world that... we have one of the best bands in the world," said Townsend. "Tto have them specifically request my students, it's something that we're going to jump at and go full force to get the money raised to get our kids there."
Townsend said it will cost an estimated $400,000 to send all 125 band members to the 2023 parade. Fundraising plans are already underway.
