Seniors in the Fayette County

High band program who graduate next May have received permission to return

in December 2004, when the Marching Tigers take off to England to appear

in the 2005 New Year's Day Parade through the streets of London.

The Board of Education recently signed off on the big trip, but conditions

will apply to the graduates, who must return to all the rules and regulations

of high school after having completed their first semester in college,

in most cases.

Eighth-grade band students at Fayette Middle School this year will also

be eligible to go, since they'll be freshmen in the Tiger Band next

fall.

The Class of 2004 participants will be required to sign a waiver pledging

to abide by all school district rules and regulations while on the trip.

Failing to do so will result in the musicians being sent back home immediately

at their own expense, FCHS Band Boosters say.

But it seems unlikely any of the Marching Tigers, freshmen or graduates

alike, would risk missing the chance to march through some of London's

most famous streets and squares, including Trafalger, Picadilly and Westminster.

More than 1 million Londoners line the streets for the 2.2-mile long American-style

parade, started in 1987 in an attempt to chase away the post-holiday blahs

and now billed as Great Britain's largest annual event, according

to the parade Web site.

Band director Kenny Beard said the details are still to be worked out,

but that the band would tenatively fly via Delta to London a couple of

days after Christmas next year, seeing the sights and performing concerts

at several venues in England in addition to marching in the Jan. 1 parade.

The students would return by Jan. 3, 2005, and the start of spring semester.

It was unclear how many students will make the trip. The marching band

has about 225 members this year. About 300 FCHS students are enrolled

in band, according information on the band Web site.

All students will be required to pass a music and parade marching audition

to go to London, Beard said.

Total cost per student is estimated at around $1,800, according to trip

organizers, and the first installment will be due in November. The FCHS

Band Boosters organization will help offset the cost through fund raisers,

like last weekend's LaFayette Classic marching contest, and the annual

Miss Pride of Fayette County pageant.

Still, $1,800 is a far cry cheaper than the $3,000 required to send each

student on the last overseas trip made by the Fayette County Band, to

perform in the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

The band made front-page headlines on both continents in the months leading

up to the 17-day journey that September, when Sydney Olympic officials

rescinded their original offer, bowing to criticism from Australians that

the ceremonies were too Americanized.

Diplomacy eventually ruled, however, and more than 300 students and chaperones

made the trip when a second invitation was extended.

The FCHS Color Guard and majorettes will be included in the London excursion;

auxillary units weren't part of the Olympics ceremony performance.

The Marching Tigers are not the first area high school band to take part

in the London parade; the Sandy Creek Marching Patriots accepted an invitation

to England in the mid-'90s, and the Robert W. Woodruff Marching Band

of Woodward Academy in College Park, named for the famous alumnus and

Coca-Cola Company founder, is a participant this year.

As always, contributions to the London Parade trip fund are being accepted.

Contact the band at 770-719-2112 or at www.fchsband.org.