MIHS Marching Band Invited To Prestigious London Parade on New Year’s Day

Mercer Island, WA, March 26, 2025 - The Mercer Island High School Marching Band is tuning up for a truly unforgettable moment.

On Wednesday, April 2 the founder of the London Parade and the official parade ambassador will visit MIHS to personally invite the student musicians to take part in the iconic 2026 New Year’s Day parade, celebrated as “the greatest event in the greatest city in the world.” It’s a once-in-a-lifetime honor, and the energy on campus is like a drumline crescendo!

On January 1, 2026, the Mercer Island High School Marching Band will entertain the half million people who line the streets of the 40th annual London Parade with their creative, energetic and approachable performance style. The MIHS Marching Band is one of about a dozen high school bands selected from around the United States to participate.

“The invitation to march in the London Parade on New Year’s Day is a direct reflection of the incredible dedication of our students, as well as the unwavering support from our band parents, boosters, and community,” said Kyle Thompson, MIHS Marching Band Director. “We couldn’t have earned this opportunity without them.” 

When: Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 8:00am-8:30am

Where: Mercer Island High School
               9100 SE 42 nd St            
               Mercer Island, WA 98040

Who: Steve Summers, JP (Justice of the Peace), HM’s Deputy Lieutenant,  Former Lord Mayor of the City of Westminster, Chairman of The London Mayors’ Association, and Senior Patron of the London Parade; Robert Bone, Chairman of The London Parade, Founder of Youth Music of the World/Destination Events; Dean Oblonski, Special Envoy and International Goodwill Ambassador for The London Parade; William Northen, Senior Director of International Participation; MISD Superintendent Dr. Fred Rundle; MIHS Principal Nick Wold; President, Mercer Island Schools Band Boosters Jennifer Glick; Chair, MIHS London New Year’s Day Parent Committee Gwen Loosmore.

What: The Mercer Island High School Marching Band drumline will lead a spirited formation to welcome the parade dignitaries into MIHS, where they’ll be greeted by the full band, along with students, faculty, parents, and community members.

The dignitaries will formally invite the Mercer Island High School Marching Band to participate in the 40th annual London Parade on New Year’s Day.

About the MIHS Band Program
Made up of almost 300 members, the Mercer Island Band program is the largest student organization at Mercer Island High School. Known as The Pride of the Island, The MIHS Marching Band is a non-competitive, entertainment focused ensemble that performs regularly for local, national and international events. Most recently The Pride of the Island performed in the 9 7th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and performed with Macklemore as part of the 2022 Seahawks NFL home opener. In addition, the band is a four-time participant in the Tournament of Roses Parade, has been mentioned on the floor of Congress as a program of distinction, and has performed as far abroad as China and  Australia.  Mercer Island high School has twice been selected as a Grammy Signature School and the city of Mercer Island is a two-time recipient of NAMM’s “Best Communities for Music Education” designation. Led by directors Parker Bixby, Kyle Thompson, and Jacob Krieger the MIHS band is proud to represent the Pacific Northwest in the 40th London New Year’s Day Parade.

About the London Parade
London, consistently voted as one of the world’s most popular destinations, packed full of landmark buildings, world class tourist attractions, restaurants offering cuisine from around the globe and, for over three decades, London Parade (previously known as London’s New Year’s Day Parade). Running alongside the parade is the London Parade Concert Series and the Grand Finale of the London International Choral Festival performed in internationally acclaimed music venues across the nation’s capital.

Destination Events, in partnership with PBS, BBC Radio London, London Live, LIVENow and Telenet Global Logistics have all come together every year to produce a wonderful series of indoor and outdoor performances, culminating in the spectacular London Parade which starts at 1pm, January 1st, on Piccadilly.

A far cry from the inaugural parade in 1987 with 2,000 performers, London Parade attracts over 10,000 participants from the USA, UK, Europe and beyond to delight a street audience of over 500,000 and our TV audience, which reaches more than 500,000,000 annually.

An important part of London Parade is their fundraising for London Charities. Since the beginning London Parade is proud to announce that they have raised or donated more than £2.5M for London Charities, through the London Borough Competition.