The Lobo Band is set to perform at the 2028 London New Year’s Day Parade, with a $1.5 million fundraiser launched to support student travel.
ETR Staff Report
Big Green Marching Machine, Viewettes, and Majorettes will represent East Texas on an international stage; $1.5 million fundraising campaign launched to help students make the trip.
“We are asking our community, our alumni, our businesses, and everyone who believes in Longview students to help us open this door for them.”
Rhonda Daniel, Longview ISD director of bands and director of instrumental music
The Longview High School Lobo Band, home of the Big Green Marching Machine, has been selected to perform in the 2028 London New Year’s Day Parade, an invitation-only international event that brings together top bands, dancers, and performers from around the world.
The announcement was shared Tuesday morning with current Longview ISD students in grades 7-10 who will be eligible for the performance, along with the Viewettes, during a surprise event at the Mickey Melton Performing Arts Center.
For Longview, the invitation is more than a performance opportunity. It is a chance for more than 300 student performers from the Big Green Marching Machine, Viewettes, and Majorettes to carry the pride of East Texas onto one of the world’s most visible stages.
The London New Year’s Day Parade is one of the world’s largest New Year’s celebrations, featuring more than 8,000 performers from across the globe. The parade moves through the heart of Westminster, where hundreds of thousands of spectators line the streets and millions more watch worldwide. Students will perform alongside international bands, dancers, and entertainers in a large-scale global production.
“This is the kind of opportunity that students remember for the rest of their lives,” said Rhonda Daniel, Longview ISD director of bands and director of instrumental music. “Our students work with a level of discipline, focus, and pride that has defined this program for generations. To see that excellence recognized on an international stage is incredibly meaningful, not only for the band, but for Longview and East Texas.”
The Lobo Band’s selection continues a legacy that spans more than 80 years. Known for its traditional military-style marching, precision, and discipline, the Big Green Marching Machine has long been one of the most respected band programs in Texas. Since UIL marching competition began in 1949, the Lobo Band has earned a First Division, or Superior, rating every year, reaching 76 consecutive superior ratings in 2025.
The program has also earned state-level recognition as a consistent UIL State Military Marching finalist, including bronze medal honors and back-to-back silver medal finishes.
To help make the trip possible, the Lobo Band Booster Club and Viewette Booster Club have launched a $1.5 million fundraising campaign to support travel, meals, and essential expenses for students. The goal is to reduce the estimated cost per student from more than $4,500 to approximately $1,000, helping ensure that cost does not prevent students from participating.
More than 80% of Longview ISD students come from families who qualify for free or reduced lunch, making community support a critical part of the effort.
“This trip has to be about access,” Daniel said. “Every student who earns this opportunity should have the chance to experience it. We are asking our community, our alumni, our businesses, and everyone who believes in Longview students to help us open this door for them.”
For many students, the trip will mark their first opportunity to travel internationally. In addition to participating in the parade, students will take guided visits to historic landmarks and cultural sites in London, creating an educational experience that extends far beyond the parade route.
The campaign includes opportunities for one-time gifts, monthly giving, and leadership sponsorships. According to campaign materials, gifts of $1,000 or more help support one student, while larger gifts can help support multiple students or significantly reduce costs for groups of student performers.
Supporters can contribute through the official fundraising page using this link.
The Lobo Band Booster Club and Viewette Booster Club are both registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Contributions are tax-deductible as permitted by law.
The campus wants to know that when people give, they are not just helping pay for a trip. They are telling students, “You belong on that stage. You can represent Longview anywhere in the world.” That kind of belief changes young people.
From Friday night lights to state competition stages, the Big Green Marching Machine has long represented Lobo pride in motion. In 2028, that pride will march through London, carrying with it a tradition of excellence, a standard of precision, and a legacy that spans generations.
Courtesy photos Longview Independent School District
