Photo courtesy of Sacred Hearts Academy

Band members, Sacred Hearts Academy freshmen Tiffany Shigeoka and Tiana Oki, try to keep warm.

By Hayley Matson-Mathes | Special to the Herald

The largest all-girls marching band in the U.S. (Sacred Hearts Academy Marching Band) marched in the biggest New Year’s Day parade in the world (London New Year’s Day Parade) on the coldest day of the year (being the only day of the year at that point).

The more than 150 musicians, color guard and dancers strode down the historic 2.2 mile route, beginning at the stroke of noon on New Year’s Day, from Big Ben, past Parliament and through Trafalgar Square, to the cheers of a half a million spectators along the route (including a hearty contingent of Academy supporters from Hawaii) and to the delight of 270 million people watching via more than 700 television stations on five continents.

The Academy band, under the direction of Matthew Martin, was one of only 23 U.S. marching bands invited to the parade.

The band also performed in historical concert halls, including St. Augustine Church in Kilburn. The students received a warm welcome for what must have been the most eclectic lineup of tunes ever performed there — “Auld Lang Syne,” “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” “Paradiso” and “Kawaipunahele.”

The trip to London also took in some fun diversions. The students toured London’s historic west end, visited Stonehenge and the Roman Bath’s, the Salisbury Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle (where the queen lives), took a ride on the London Eye, watched the show “Stomp” in London’s theatre district, and even got to shop on Oxford St. and at Harrod’s.

Prior to making the trip, the students had spent countless hours in practice, rehearsals and fundraising, including a series of holiday concerts in Waikiki with the Society of Seven Las Vegas.