Ocean Springs High Blue Grey Band headed to London soon

The Ocean Springs High School Blue Grey Pride Band is getting ready to embark on a new adventure.

The Blue Grey Pride Band is headed to London after being cordially invited to the London New Years Day Parade.

Steve Summers, chairman of the London Mayors Association, has just invited students in the Ocean Springs High School band to an adventure of a lifetime. News that he says will be life-changing for many of them. “You know, I always say that, and I really, really mean it. It’s going to be a lot of hard work; it’s going to be a lot of practice. It’s going to be a big commitment, but then they’re going to come to London and they’re going to perform in one of the biggest events in the world in the heart of London.”

The London New Year’s Day Parade is double the size of Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, and lasts nearly four hours. Only the best of the best are hand-selected to attend.

This will be Drum Major Dade Watson’s last big event with the band before he graduates and he is ready to get to work. “I feel like it… makes me feel like we need to dive even deeper. We need to work even harder than we were before and we need to get even better and better and better.”

Director of Bands Kevin Chira tells us how this trip will influence young musicians. “I think taking them to another country and watching them see and observe and perform will just give them a better perspective of what life is. So, we’re very excited to have this opportunity.”

The band will be doing multiple fundraisers to help students raise the funds to go on this trip. Many students have already set up GoFundMe accounts if you’re interested in donating.