Mill Creek High School to play in 2027 New Year's Day Parade in London

     Mill Creek High School’s band students will take flight to London, England, to perform in the 2027 London Parade on January 1.

     The Mill Creek High band was nominated for the honor by the London Parade selection committee, and the band will spend an entire year preparing for the performance. Four representatives recently visited the school to extend the invitation officially .

     The parade, which started in 1987 with 2,000 mostly local performers, now involves more than 10,000 performers from around the world and attracts a street audience of more than 500,000 and a live TV audience of 500,000.

     “It was inspiring to see the excitement on both sides — our students realizing the magnitude of the opportunity, and the delegation recognizing the talent and spirit of our band,” says Mill Creek High Band Director, Tina Christiansen.

     The London Parade selection committee searches the globe for ensembles that display excellence in music, leadership, and community engagement. The committee carefully evaluates hundreds of applications from school bands, university ensembles, community groups, and performance troupes each year. Selection is based not only on musical talent and technical skill, but also on the group’s ability to represent their region with pride, demonstrate strong leadership qualities, and contribute positively to their local communities.

     “It is an incredible honor and very emotional to see our students’ hard work recognized at this level,” Christiansen shares. “This is more than just a performance opportunity — it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that validates their dedication, shows them that music can open doors across the world, and brings tremendous pride to our school and community.”

     Throughout the year, the students will develop both their marching and musical skills, learn the selected parade repertoire, and work together to raise money for their international performance.

To see these Hawks in action, visit the Mill Creek HS Band website.