Staff Writer

VISTA - A former lord mayor of Westminster, England, came to Vista High School on Friday to invite the school's band students to perform in the United Kingdom in 2009.

Catherine Longworth, who retired last year after serving for 12 years on the Westminster City Council, made the announcement. Westminster is a separate city in the heart of London. Students, packed into the band room with parents and school officials, greeted the invitation with loud cheers.

"It feels awesome," said senior Jaynell Felizardo, a flutist.

"It'll be a huge, eye-opening opportunity for them all," Longworth said. Traveling "is such a life-enhancing thing to do," she said.

During spring break, about 180 members of the school's Regimental Band and Pageantry Corps will perform in London and Edinburgh, Scotland. Band director Neil Anderson invited this year's seniors to participate in the 2009 event.

Now, the band will start planning fundraisers, Anderson said. The trip will cost nearly $3,000 per student.

The 12-day, five-show tour is being organized by Youth Music of the World, a European nonprofit group that brings school bands to foreign countries to perform.

The group has arranged for roughly 150,000 American students to come to Europe to play throughout the last two decades, said Robert Bone, executive director of the organization. The group bases its selections on recommendation from other band directors and music experts, Bone said.

"They report back to us when they see somebody who's particularly excellent," he said.

Students in the band said they were thrilled to be recognized as excellent, especially from a foreign group.

"It's all just very exciting," said Chris Norman, a senior who plays the drums and bass clarinet.

Senior Brad Hetchins, who plays drums and saxophone, said he was looking forward to meeting other musicians while out of the country - and to a bit of showing off.

"We really strive for excellence," he said, "and I think that really shows to the community and, apparently, out of the country, too."

This is the first time in two decades that Vista High's band has left the continent to perform, Anderson said. The band usually travels across the country once every couple of years.

Anderson said he viewed the transatlantic trip as an important way for his students to learn.

"A well-rounded music education involves experiencing the cultures of different countries," he said.

Europeans are typically excited to see marching bands because there are few ensembles out there, Bone said.

Principal Larry White, a former band director, said he was proud to see his students acknowledged in such a big way.

"This is absolutely wonderful," he said.

Band director Neil Anderson found out about the opportunity almost a month ago, but kept it a secret until Friday.

Contact staff writer Stacy Brandt at (760) 901-4009 or sbrandt@nctimes.com.