RSS Feeds
Yardley News > News
Pennsbury Marching Band plays in London's New Year's Day Parade
Tweet
Teenagers clad in Pennsbury’s finest crisp orange and black band uniforms marched through the streets of London, England, performing in the city’s prestigious New Year’s Day parade as invited guests.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Pennsbury High School marching band.
The band, also known as the “Long Orange Line,” played two John Phillip Sousa marches: “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and “Washington Post.”
Add to that, a Mickey Mouse medley, arranged by Frank Mazzeo, Pennsbury School District’s instrumental music coordinator, who is orchestrating the trip.
The Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band performed at a separate venue in London.
Ninety-two Pennsbury High School marching band and jazz band members left Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009 with 34 chaperones and faculty for a trip of a lifetime. The group returned early in the morning on Sunday, Jan. 3.
Seventeen-year-old Dylan Principi, a senior from Lower Makefield, led the band through the streets of London as drum major. He said his job is to help make sure everything runs smoothly.
A member of the marching band for four years, Principi plays alto saxophone with the jazz band. This is not his first trip out of the country. He has been to Canada and China.
He went to Hong Kong two years ago with the marching band. Another memorable time for him was going to Boston to perform with the jazz band.
“I just think it’s really good that I got to see different parts of the world,” he said. “I don’t know of many 17 year olds who have gotten to go to China.” Continued...
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Pennsbury High School marching band.
The band, also known as the “Long Orange Line,” played two John Phillip Sousa marches: “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and “Washington Post.”
Add to that, a Mickey Mouse medley, arranged by Frank Mazzeo, Pennsbury School District’s instrumental music coordinator, who is orchestrating the trip.
The Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band performed at a separate venue in London.
Ninety-two Pennsbury High School marching band and jazz band members left Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009 with 34 chaperones and faculty for a trip of a lifetime. The group returned early in the morning on Sunday, Jan. 3.
Seventeen-year-old Dylan Principi, a senior from Lower Makefield, led the band through the streets of London as drum major. He said his job is to help make sure everything runs smoothly.
A member of the marching band for four years, Principi plays alto saxophone with the jazz band. This is not his first trip out of the country. He has been to Canada and China.
He went to Hong Kong two years ago with the marching band. Another memorable time for him was going to Boston to perform with the jazz band.
“I just think it’s really good that I got to see different parts of the world,” he said. “I don’t know of many 17 year olds who have gotten to go to China.” Continued...
Reader Comments »
View reader comments (0) » Comment on this story »
For 16-year-old Diamond Adamson, a sophomore, being a member of the color guard and the honor guard means she marched out in front. In the color guard, she spins a flag, but in the honor guard, she either holds an American flag, a Pennsbury flag or a wooden rifle.
“This is my first time going out of the country with the band or ever,” she said. “I think it’s a chance most kids don’t take. I wanted to take the opportunity once I heard about it.
“It’s exciting,” Adamson said before the trip. “We’ve known about it for a while, but it really hasn’t hit me ‘til now.”
Mazzeo noted that this trip is the second one out of the country for the band in the last two years.
“It feels awesome,” he said before leaving for London. “I like bringing these kids. They represent our community, our state and our nation extremely well.”
A formal invitation to perform in the New Year’s Day parade was delivered personally during the last school year by representatives of Queen Elizabeth. A second visit by the Honorable Roger Bramble, Deputy Lord Lieutenant appointed by Her Majesty, took place in October.
Chad Willard, a senior and the band’s drum captain, said in an interview: “It was an amazing experience to represent Pennsbury and our community in the parade. The crowd really seemed to enjoy our marching. The rest of the trip was great – so much history and we had a lot of fun.”
Willard said the trip was “a great way to wrap up my senior year in the band.”
His father, Dave Willard, went with the group.
“The first comment on the YouTube video of Pennsbury’s performance in the parade, already viewed almost 800 times, came hours after the performance and made us proud,” he said Monday. Continued...
“This is my first time going out of the country with the band or ever,” she said. “I think it’s a chance most kids don’t take. I wanted to take the opportunity once I heard about it.
“It’s exciting,” Adamson said before the trip. “We’ve known about it for a while, but it really hasn’t hit me ‘til now.”
Mazzeo noted that this trip is the second one out of the country for the band in the last two years.
“It feels awesome,” he said before leaving for London. “I like bringing these kids. They represent our community, our state and our nation extremely well.”
A formal invitation to perform in the New Year’s Day parade was delivered personally during the last school year by representatives of Queen Elizabeth. A second visit by the Honorable Roger Bramble, Deputy Lord Lieutenant appointed by Her Majesty, took place in October.
Chad Willard, a senior and the band’s drum captain, said in an interview: “It was an amazing experience to represent Pennsbury and our community in the parade. The crowd really seemed to enjoy our marching. The rest of the trip was great – so much history and we had a lot of fun.”
Willard said the trip was “a great way to wrap up my senior year in the band.”
His father, Dave Willard, went with the group.
“The first comment on the YouTube video of Pennsbury’s performance in the parade, already viewed almost 800 times, came hours after the performance and made us proud,” he said Monday. Continued...
The message came on Jan. 1 from an Irish citizen, who is a freelance broadcaster and journalist: “It was a real treat to see you in the parade today and I hope we made you welcome. We loved your style and uniforms. I’m going to share this with friends on Facebook. Happy New Year for 2010.”
The band performed last year at the International Rugby Tournament known as the “Hong Kong Sevens” in China. They have the distinction of being the only high school band to have performed at all five Walt Disney theme parks around the world.
On Thanksgiving Day, 2009, the Pennsbury Marching Band made its 26th consecutive appearance as the honor band in Philadelphia’s Thanksgiving Day parade. This year, they were appointed to accompany Santa for his grand entrance at the end of the parade.
The following are excerpts from some of the comments written by students for the Pennsbury Marching Band blog.
The comments tell about the students’ learning experiences and observations during the marching band’s trip to London and its performance in London’s New Years’ Eve Parade.
Hillary Curran, a junior, wrote: “I feel so incredibly lucky to have been given an opportunity to come to one of the most famous cities in the world! I have always wanted to travel to London and this past week I received my wish.
“I was also fortunate to have such an organized trip. I never had to worry about anything. First, we experienced a traditional English meal in the Albert pub. The atmosphere was the best first impression I could have received because it provided me with a taste of what was coming. The food was great and I really enjoyed it.”
Seniors Jenny Hughes, Trombone Section Leader, and Jillian Roberts, Flute Section Leader, wrote: “The trip in London was an amazing experience for the entire band. We saw many historical places like Hampton Court, Windsor Castle and the Tower of London. The extraordinary beauty of these places had a huge effect on the band and everyone had a great time.
“The PCJB (Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band) performance in St. John’s Cathedral was entertaining for everyone. The bands and choruses from around the world were really good. PCJB’s performance was exciting, the band was really impressive, and was well received by the audience.
“Another great experience was marching in the New Year’s Day parade. It was unforgettable to be in another country for New Year’s and to perform in such a prestigious parade. The 575,000 plus crowd’s energy and enthusiasm for our band made the experience that much better!” Continued...
The band performed last year at the International Rugby Tournament known as the “Hong Kong Sevens” in China. They have the distinction of being the only high school band to have performed at all five Walt Disney theme parks around the world.
On Thanksgiving Day, 2009, the Pennsbury Marching Band made its 26th consecutive appearance as the honor band in Philadelphia’s Thanksgiving Day parade. This year, they were appointed to accompany Santa for his grand entrance at the end of the parade.
The following are excerpts from some of the comments written by students for the Pennsbury Marching Band blog.
The comments tell about the students’ learning experiences and observations during the marching band’s trip to London and its performance in London’s New Years’ Eve Parade.
Hillary Curran, a junior, wrote: “I feel so incredibly lucky to have been given an opportunity to come to one of the most famous cities in the world! I have always wanted to travel to London and this past week I received my wish.
“I was also fortunate to have such an organized trip. I never had to worry about anything. First, we experienced a traditional English meal in the Albert pub. The atmosphere was the best first impression I could have received because it provided me with a taste of what was coming. The food was great and I really enjoyed it.”
Seniors Jenny Hughes, Trombone Section Leader, and Jillian Roberts, Flute Section Leader, wrote: “The trip in London was an amazing experience for the entire band. We saw many historical places like Hampton Court, Windsor Castle and the Tower of London. The extraordinary beauty of these places had a huge effect on the band and everyone had a great time.
“The PCJB (Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band) performance in St. John’s Cathedral was entertaining for everyone. The bands and choruses from around the world were really good. PCJB’s performance was exciting, the band was really impressive, and was well received by the audience.
“Another great experience was marching in the New Year’s Day parade. It was unforgettable to be in another country for New Year’s and to perform in such a prestigious parade. The 575,000 plus crowd’s energy and enthusiasm for our band made the experience that much better!” Continued...
Heather Erhard, Color Guard Captain, a junior, wrote: “My time in London has been amazing so far. Our first day was quite tiring, but we got to see Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and London’s Eye. On this trip, I’ve gotten to see the actual sights from Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes. The jet lag was pretty bad at first, but the hotel is so comfy and cozy that we soon got over it.
“New Year’s Eve was a lot of fun. During the day we visited Oxford University and then took a ride through the countryside to Windsor. At Oxford, we learned that during dinner that people usually get into full-out debates. While in Windsor we took a tour through Windsor castle, which is actually used today by Her Majesty the Queen.”
Zack Greenfield, Band Captain, a senior, wrote: “I’ve had the experience of a lifetime. Even though London is only a six-hour plane ride, culturally it is a world away. Everyday activities that we take for granted in the United States are entirely different. When walking throughout the city we must be careful to look right instead of left when approaching an intersection!
“New Year’s Eve was a lot of fun. During the day we visited Oxford University and then took a ride through the countryside to Windsor. At Oxford, we learned that during dinner that people usually get into full-out debates. While in Windsor we took a tour through Windsor castle, which is actually used today by Her Majesty the Queen.”
Zack Greenfield, Band Captain, a senior, wrote: “I’ve had the experience of a lifetime. Even though London is only a six-hour plane ride, culturally it is a world away. Everyday activities that we take for granted in the United States are entirely different. When walking throughout the city we must be careful to look right instead of left when approaching an intersection!
Teenagers clad in Pennsbury’s finest crisp orange and black band uniforms marched through the streets of London, England, performing in the city’s prestigious New Year’s Day parade as invited guests.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Pennsbury High School marching band.
The band, also known as the “Long Orange Line,” played two John Phillip Sousa marches: “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and “Washington Post.”
Add to that, a Mickey Mouse medley, arranged by Frank Mazzeo, Pennsbury School District’s instrumental music coordinator, who is orchestrating the trip.
The Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band performed at a separate venue in London.
Ninety-two Pennsbury High School marching band and jazz band members left Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009 with 34 chaperones and faculty for a trip of a lifetime. The group returned early in the morning on Sunday, Jan. 3.
Seventeen-year-old Dylan Principi, a senior from Lower Makefield, led the band through the streets of London as drum major. He said his job is to help make sure everything runs smoothly.
A member of the marching band for four years, Principi plays alto saxophone with the jazz band. This is not his first trip out of the country. He has been to Canada and China.
He went to Hong Kong two years ago with the marching band. Another memorable time for him was going to Boston to perform with the jazz band.
“I just think it’s really good that I got to see different parts of the world,” he said. “I don’t know of many 17 year olds who have gotten to go to China.”
For 16-year-old Diamond Adamson, a sophomore, being a member of the color guard and the honor guard means she marched out in front. In the color guard, she spins a flag, but in the honor guard, she either holds an American flag, a Pennsbury flag or a wooden rifle.
“This is my first time going out of the country with the band or ever,” she said. “I think it’s a chance most kids don’t take. I wanted to take the opportunity once I heard about it.
“It’s exciting,” Adamson said before the trip. “We’ve known about it for a while, but it really hasn’t hit me ‘til now.”
Mazzeo noted that this trip is the second one out of the country for the band in the last two years.
“It feels awesome,” he said before leaving for London. “I like bringing these kids. They represent our community, our state and our nation extremely well.”
A formal invitation to perform in the New Year’s Day parade was delivered personally during the last school year by representatives of Queen Elizabeth. A second visit by the Honorable Roger Bramble, Deputy Lord Lieutenant appointed by Her Majesty, took place in October.
Chad Willard, a senior and the band’s drum captain, said in an interview: “It was an amazing experience to represent Pennsbury and our community in the parade. The crowd really seemed to enjoy our marching. The rest of the trip was great – so much history and we had a lot of fun.”
Willard said the trip was “a great way to wrap up my senior year in the band.”
His father, Dave Willard, went with the group.
“The first comment on the YouTube video of Pennsbury’s performance in the parade, already viewed almost 800 times, came hours after the performance and made us proud,” he said Monday.
The message came on Jan. 1 from an Irish citizen, who is a freelance broadcaster and journalist: “It was a real treat to see you in the parade today and I hope we made you welcome. We loved your style and uniforms. I’m going to share this with friends on Facebook. Happy New Year for 2010.”
The band performed last year at the International Rugby Tournament known as the “Hong Kong Sevens” in China. They have the distinction of being the only high school band to have performed at all five Walt Disney theme parks around the world.
On Thanksgiving Day, 2009, the Pennsbury Marching Band made its 26th consecutive appearance as the honor band in Philadelphia’s Thanksgiving Day parade. This year, they were appointed to accompany Santa for his grand entrance at the end of the parade.
The following are excerpts from some of the comments written by students for the Pennsbury Marching Band blog.
The comments tell about the students’ learning experiences and observations during the marching band’s trip to London and its performance in London’s New Years’ Eve Parade.
Hillary Curran, a junior, wrote: “I feel so incredibly lucky to have been given an opportunity to come to one of the most famous cities in the world! I have always wanted to travel to London and this past week I received my wish.
“I was also fortunate to have such an organized trip. I never had to worry about anything. First, we experienced a traditional English meal in the Albert pub. The atmosphere was the best first impression I could have received because it provided me with a taste of what was coming. The food was great and I really enjoyed it.”
Seniors Jenny Hughes, Trombone Section Leader, and Jillian Roberts, Flute Section Leader, wrote: “The trip in London was an amazing experience for the entire band. We saw many historical places like Hampton Court, Windsor Castle and the Tower of London. The extraordinary beauty of these places had a huge effect on the band and everyone had a great time.
“The PCJB (Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band) performance in St. John’s Cathedral was entertaining for everyone. The bands and choruses from around the world were really good. PCJB’s performance was exciting, the band was really impressive, and was well received by the audience.
“Another great experience was marching in the New Year’s Day parade. It was unforgettable to be in another country for New Year’s and to perform in such a prestigious parade. The 575,000 plus crowd’s energy and enthusiasm for our band made the experience that much better!”
Heather Erhard, Color Guard Captain, a junior, wrote: “My time in London has been amazing so far. Our first day was quite tiring, but we got to see Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and London’s Eye. On this trip, I’ve gotten to see the actual sights from Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes. The jet lag was pretty bad at first, but the hotel is so comfy and cozy that we soon got over it.
“New Year’s Eve was a lot of fun. During the day we visited Oxford University and then took a ride through the countryside to Windsor. At Oxford, we learned that during dinner that people usually get into full-out debates. While in Windsor we took a tour through Windsor castle, which is actually used today by Her Majesty the Queen.”
Zack Greenfield, Band Captain, a senior, wrote: “I’ve had the experience of a lifetime. Even though London is only a six-hour plane ride, culturally it is a world away. Everyday activities that we take for granted in the United States are entirely different. When walking throughout the city we must be careful to look right instead of left when approaching an intersection!
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Pennsbury High School marching band.
The band, also known as the “Long Orange Line,” played two John Phillip Sousa marches: “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and “Washington Post.”
Add to that, a Mickey Mouse medley, arranged by Frank Mazzeo, Pennsbury School District’s instrumental music coordinator, who is orchestrating the trip.
The Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band performed at a separate venue in London.
Ninety-two Pennsbury High School marching band and jazz band members left Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009 with 34 chaperones and faculty for a trip of a lifetime. The group returned early in the morning on Sunday, Jan. 3.
Seventeen-year-old Dylan Principi, a senior from Lower Makefield, led the band through the streets of London as drum major. He said his job is to help make sure everything runs smoothly.
A member of the marching band for four years, Principi plays alto saxophone with the jazz band. This is not his first trip out of the country. He has been to Canada and China.
He went to Hong Kong two years ago with the marching band. Another memorable time for him was going to Boston to perform with the jazz band.
“I just think it’s really good that I got to see different parts of the world,” he said. “I don’t know of many 17 year olds who have gotten to go to China.”
For 16-year-old Diamond Adamson, a sophomore, being a member of the color guard and the honor guard means she marched out in front. In the color guard, she spins a flag, but in the honor guard, she either holds an American flag, a Pennsbury flag or a wooden rifle.
“This is my first time going out of the country with the band or ever,” she said. “I think it’s a chance most kids don’t take. I wanted to take the opportunity once I heard about it.
“It’s exciting,” Adamson said before the trip. “We’ve known about it for a while, but it really hasn’t hit me ‘til now.”
Mazzeo noted that this trip is the second one out of the country for the band in the last two years.
“It feels awesome,” he said before leaving for London. “I like bringing these kids. They represent our community, our state and our nation extremely well.”
A formal invitation to perform in the New Year’s Day parade was delivered personally during the last school year by representatives of Queen Elizabeth. A second visit by the Honorable Roger Bramble, Deputy Lord Lieutenant appointed by Her Majesty, took place in October.
Chad Willard, a senior and the band’s drum captain, said in an interview: “It was an amazing experience to represent Pennsbury and our community in the parade. The crowd really seemed to enjoy our marching. The rest of the trip was great – so much history and we had a lot of fun.”
Willard said the trip was “a great way to wrap up my senior year in the band.”
His father, Dave Willard, went with the group.
“The first comment on the YouTube video of Pennsbury’s performance in the parade, already viewed almost 800 times, came hours after the performance and made us proud,” he said Monday.
The message came on Jan. 1 from an Irish citizen, who is a freelance broadcaster and journalist: “It was a real treat to see you in the parade today and I hope we made you welcome. We loved your style and uniforms. I’m going to share this with friends on Facebook. Happy New Year for 2010.”
The band performed last year at the International Rugby Tournament known as the “Hong Kong Sevens” in China. They have the distinction of being the only high school band to have performed at all five Walt Disney theme parks around the world.
On Thanksgiving Day, 2009, the Pennsbury Marching Band made its 26th consecutive appearance as the honor band in Philadelphia’s Thanksgiving Day parade. This year, they were appointed to accompany Santa for his grand entrance at the end of the parade.
The following are excerpts from some of the comments written by students for the Pennsbury Marching Band blog.
The comments tell about the students’ learning experiences and observations during the marching band’s trip to London and its performance in London’s New Years’ Eve Parade.
Hillary Curran, a junior, wrote: “I feel so incredibly lucky to have been given an opportunity to come to one of the most famous cities in the world! I have always wanted to travel to London and this past week I received my wish.
“I was also fortunate to have such an organized trip. I never had to worry about anything. First, we experienced a traditional English meal in the Albert pub. The atmosphere was the best first impression I could have received because it provided me with a taste of what was coming. The food was great and I really enjoyed it.”
Seniors Jenny Hughes, Trombone Section Leader, and Jillian Roberts, Flute Section Leader, wrote: “The trip in London was an amazing experience for the entire band. We saw many historical places like Hampton Court, Windsor Castle and the Tower of London. The extraordinary beauty of these places had a huge effect on the band and everyone had a great time.
“The PCJB (Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band) performance in St. John’s Cathedral was entertaining for everyone. The bands and choruses from around the world were really good. PCJB’s performance was exciting, the band was really impressive, and was well received by the audience.
“Another great experience was marching in the New Year’s Day parade. It was unforgettable to be in another country for New Year’s and to perform in such a prestigious parade. The 575,000 plus crowd’s energy and enthusiasm for our band made the experience that much better!”
Heather Erhard, Color Guard Captain, a junior, wrote: “My time in London has been amazing so far. Our first day was quite tiring, but we got to see Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and London’s Eye. On this trip, I’ve gotten to see the actual sights from Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes. The jet lag was pretty bad at first, but the hotel is so comfy and cozy that we soon got over it.
“New Year’s Eve was a lot of fun. During the day we visited Oxford University and then took a ride through the countryside to Windsor. At Oxford, we learned that during dinner that people usually get into full-out debates. While in Windsor we took a tour through Windsor castle, which is actually used today by Her Majesty the Queen.”
Zack Greenfield, Band Captain, a senior, wrote: “I’ve had the experience of a lifetime. Even though London is only a six-hour plane ride, culturally it is a world away. Everyday activities that we take for granted in the United States are entirely different. When walking throughout the city we must be careful to look right instead of left when approaching an intersection!
Comments
Login To Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Not Registered? Sign up today for free!
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Health Theater Content...
Your town. Your news.
Have a suggestion or story idea? See wrong or incorrect information in a story? Tell us here.
Penn State Squawks
Penn State fans and alum, roar like a Nittany Lion. Let your voice be heard here on anything PSU!
Veterans of Bucks County
A collection of the 'Saluting our Veterans' stories from your community newspapers.
Bucks County Taste
Be it farms, markets, restaurants, bars, wineries, small producers and local merchants, we write about the best food that Bucks County has to offer.
Bucks Happening
Restaurant reviews, a calendar of events, merchandise, seasonal guides...a website about all things that make Bucks County happening!
Mama's Little Helper
This reference site for parents in Pa. and N.J. features a calendar of local (and many FREE) events, coupons, giveaways, directories (classes, places to play, story times, consignment stores/sales), helpful articles & a blog!
Lunch Box Mom
The blog for parents trying to save their sanity and their brains, Lunch Box Mom takes on one hot parenting topic a week with humor, intelligence and curiosity.