CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – The University of Northern Iowa Panther Marching Band will ring in the new year in the Old World. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the band has been asked to march in the London New Year’s Day Parade on Jan. 1st.  Danny Galyen, director of the UNI marching band, says he believes it will be the first time the UNI band has performed internationally.

A selection committee of top-tier music educators made recommendations about which bands to invite. Thousands of featured performers from around the world will march past such landmarks as Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster.

The parade’s website says it attracts twice as many spectators as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York.