South to London
Blue Springs South High School represented BSSD on the world stage January 1 in the 40th Annual London New Year’s Day Parade. They entertained more than one million live spectators and countless millions through PBS and other networks during their performances.
The marching band performed for a street audience of approximately 500,000 people and a global TV audience while members of the choir and orchestra assisted by handling large parade balloons, including the Police Man, Cheerleader, and Guardsman.
The parade capped a week that included BSSHS in the London Parade Concert Series. The Jaguars choir, band, and orchestra performed at Smith Square Hall, with the finale featuring all three groups performing “America the Beautiful.”
Smith Square Hall, formerly St. John’s Smith Square, located in Westminster, London, was built in 1728 and is recognized as one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in the United Kingdom.
Additionally, students and staff visited historic locations in and around the city, including both Oxford University and Buckingham Palace.
Senior choir member Collette Scott said representing BSSHS and the Blue Springs community was a lifetime memory.
“When we walked by (during the parade), there was an announcer in the stands, and hearing them say “Blue Springs South Choir” made me so proud to be a part of a group with so many amazing people,” Scott said.
Junior Lily Wright added, “We were told there would be a lot of people, but I was not expecting THAT MANY people. When we turned the corner onto the parade route it was a feeling that I’ll never forget. It was so surreal to have people cheering for us who have probably never heard of Missouri. The amount of people filming us truly made me feel like a celebrity.”
Blue Springs South High School Director of Bands Kenny Hansen said the entire overseas experience was something students will appreciate the rest of their lives.
“The trip was extraordinary in so many ways. Seeing the students’ reactions to Big Ben, Oxford, and Windsor Castle were the highlights of the sightseeing portion of the trip. When we came up to those grandstands, our parents were cheering so loudly it brought tears to the eyes of the staff and students. This trip is definitely a lifetime memory for me.”