London’s Calling

Between the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympics it has been a busy year in London, England. However, the city will experience a new level of excitement and entertainment this winter when the USF Herd of Thunder (HOT) Marching Band arrives in town. With enthusiastic support from President Judy Genshaft, Provost Ralph Wilcox, the College of The Arts, and USF Athletics, the HOT Band has accepted an invitation from the Lord Mayor of Westminster to march in London’s prestigious New Year’s Day Parade.

The Herd of Thunder will march before a live audience of 750,000 people, and an internationally televised audience of 300 million as they join performers from around the globe in the world’s largest parade. We are thrilled and honored to represent the University of South Florida on this international stage and to bring attention to our school in this manner.

In addition to marching in the parade, the band will perform in a pre-parade concert in the famous Trafalgar Square, which sits at the foot of the avenue leading to Buckingham Palace. In addition, the band will have numerous sightseeing excursions and take advantage of cultural exchange opportunities.

Although the University administration has been tremendously gracious in allowing the band to travel to London, there are no funds available to support the trip, and the band and its students are solely responsible for their expenses. The cost for each student is $3,000, and there will be numerous additional expenses that the band will incur.

Your support – both financially and otherwise – is greatly appreciated as we embark upon this endeavor that our students will remember for the rest of their lives; one that will reinforce USF’s commitment to developing a globalized student body and preparing young people to serve as international stewards and global leaders.

If you wish to make a financial contribution to support the Herd of Thunder’s efforts in this exciting opportunity you may do so in two ways:

1)    Click on this link to make an online donation by Credit Card: www.usf.edu/ua/band

2)    Send a check, made payable to “USF Foundation” to:

Herd of Thunder Marching Band
4202 E. Fowler Ave, MUS 101
Tampa, FL 33620

“London Parade” should be noted in the memo section.