The Corning-Painted Post West High School band may be taking a trip across the pond in 2011. Tuesday they were invited to perform in the 25th annual London New Year's Day Parade. Our Vince Slomsky tells us about the invite and what it will take for the band to see Big Ben.

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Tuesday the high school's band was invited to perform in the 25th annual 2011 London New Year's Day Parade.

"It's huge. We're the only band in New York State. We've participated in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade three times, but it's so much, I don't want to say bigger, but just a different experience," said band director Eric Griffin.

The band is only one of about fifteen in the U.S. that got invited to perform. Each year around a half million people watch the parade live, and more than two hundred and fifty million on television. But no one can tell you how big of an event this is better than the Lord who delivered the invitation himself.

"Oh it's a big deal. It's a big deal. It's a big big deal. It happens on a day when London is usually empty of 'Londoners' but it's a huge tourist element," said Roger Bramble, Lord Lieutenant to the Queen.

All of the students and parents are so excited about the invitation, but there's plenty of work that still has to be done. To be able to go on the trip, each student is going to have to raise about three thousand dollars each.

"Three thousand dollars is going to be a lot, but I think we can do it. Like sponsors and everything is going to help us. So, we just got to work together," said feature baton twirler Angelica Thompson.

"It's a lot of money, but with a lot of hard work and help from the community I think we can do this," added her father, Christopher Thompson.

They are already planning fund raising events to meet their first payment deadline next month.

With 200 students in the band, the total cost will be around $600,000 dollars.

If they are able to raise the money, the band's trip would last from December 27th to January 2nd of 2011.