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Health & Fitness

Temecula High School Band London Bound

Great Oak High School's Marching Band to perform in London in 2013.

Temecula's own Spirit of Great Oak Marching Band & Guard has reccently recieved quite an amazing offer.

The band is invited to be one of the 25 bands from around the world to march in the London's 26th New Year's Day Parade on January 1, 2013 to commemorate the conclusion of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

This is one of the largest and most popular parades in the world, and it is viewed by thousands of people and is also held in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II herself.

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The band has shown that it can travel and perform in different areas quite professionally and successfully, as evident from their attendence and honors recieved from their performances once in Washington D.C. and twice in Phoenix.

This invitation is obviously a huge honor, especially because Great Oak's band was the only Southern California Band invited. Jerry Burdick-Rutz, the band's director, says that he thinks that the trip is a "huge, once in a lifetime opportunity" for all involved, and that he hopes all members can attend.

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In order to help ensure this, he says that the band plans to implement multiple fundraising events between now and 2013 to try and get all of its members across the pond.

I agree with Mr. Burdick-Rutz completely. This is a huge opportunity and a big honor for everyone involved. The students have worked long and hard to prove themselves, and it obviously has not gone unnoticed.

To be recognized by the British Royals and be given the chance to travel to another country and display their talents is fantastic, but to be invited to do so as a teenager is even more so. 

I truly hope that all the students can attend, and I'm sure they will all have the time of their lives and make memories that they surely will never forget.

The Lord Lieutenancy to the Queen as well as several ofther dignitaries from England will be arriving at Great Oak on Saturday October 1 for a special ceremony and to give an official invitation. To see a schedule of the morning's events,

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