The Normal Marching Band will debut on the international stage during the London New Year’s Day Parade, capping a season of milestones.

Since its formation as a co-op in 2018, the band has develiped into a state powerhouse, earning three consecutive 6A Illinois State Championships.

Now, the band takes another major step forward: performing overseas.

“This is something we really wanted since the beginning,” co-director Mr. Paul Carter said of the program’s first international trip.

The trip is no small step forward either, as London’s streets are typically filled with over 500,000 people for the annual parade which is broadcast to over 500 million viewers.

Normal is one of just 11 American high school bands invited, giving the group a rare chance to showcase its talent on a global stage.

The performance, Carter said, allows the Normal Marching Band to “demonstrate what we do here in the United States and in Normal.”

The band will perform a “Wicked”-themed show, featuring music from the award-winning musical.

The theme, Carter said, is “something the band members can buy into and enjoy” while resonating with London audiences.

The parade will begin at 6 a.m. CST on Jan. 1 and will be live-streamed on the event’s official website. Normal’s band is 47th in the lineup of 76 acts.

For drum major Mohnish Janagan, the event marks the culmination of over a year of anticipation. At the invitation ceremony 424 days ago, Janagan received the traditional parade umbrella—a symbol of good weather for the event.

Though the extended preparation added two months to the band’s season, Carter said the experience has brought one overwhelming emotion: “excitement.”

That excitement will peak when the band marches down Piccadilly Street, bringing Normal’s sound and spirit to an audience a thousand times larger than their usual crowd.