Taravella High School Band Performs In London

LONDON (CBSMiami) – A group of South Florida high school students rang in the New Year quite a long way from home. The students from JP Taravella High School in Coral Springs traveled to London to perform in the British capital city.

JP Taravella's students put in some long hours to get to London both practicing their performance, and, washing a lot of cars to raise the money to get there.

"We'll be thinking about all of our families who worked so hard to get us here," said Taravella student David Browne.

The students were part of more than 8,000 performers from 20 countries that were approved to march through London's streets as part of the New Year's Day parade. Organizers claim to have more parade participants than the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade.

Marching bands from Missouri, California, Illinois, Ohio, Florida, and five other states all participated in the parade. Organizers of the London parade said the 2014 version had one of the highest American turnouts in recent years.