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Red Deer Royals host another successful Marching Showband Classic

Jun 3, 2018 | 5:51 PM

Thousands of music fans gathered at Lindsay Thurber High School on Sunday afternoon to take in the Red Deer Royals Marching Showband Classic.

Run with the help of 70 volunteers , the event featured show bands such as the Calgary Round-Up Band, Calgary Stetson Show Band, Edmonton Sabers Marching Band, Calgary Stampede Show Band, Band of Outriders, Bishop Grandin Marching Ghosts and the Red Deer Royals of course!

In addition, those in attendance were able to enter raffle draws, 50/50 draws and bid on silent auction items donated by dozens of local sponsors and community supporters.

 

 

Director Michael Mann says the Royals have been hosting this event for over 20 years so Alberta marching bands can perform their field shows in front of local audiences.

“They’re doing what we call field show performances,” explains Mann. “They’re taking about 8-12 minutes of music and putting it onto a standard football field and then moving through what we call drill choreography to the music as they perform. It’s very much like the American college football halftime shows.”

Between the band members, their crew and people in the audience, Mann estimates about three thousand were in attendance for the show.

“I hope they have a fantastic experience performing for a very receptive crowd, it’s a full house today,” states Mann. “We hope they get a chance to realize what they’re doing well, what they can work on. They all get an adjudication from qualified adjudicators who are giving them feedback so that they can go back and hopefully take that information and improve on what they’re doing here.”

After Sunday’s show, Mann says the Royals busy performance season will continue in short order.

“We have the Mayor’s Recognition Awards on Thursday where last year’s band is receiving and award from the Mayor,” reveals Mann. “Then we will go into another competition or a performance next week in Calgary at McMahon Stadium, hosted by the Calgary Stetsons and the Calgary Round-Up group. Then after that we have a couple of parades in Blackfalds, Sylvan Lake, Sundre, Red Deer parade, Calgary, Rimbey, K-Days, so it’s a full season for us but looking forward to it.”

Mann points out the Royals will celebrate their 50th season next year so special performance plans are in the works for England and Ireland.

However, in the meantime Mann says there are always opportunities to support the Royals.

“People can check our website and look at how they can help fundraise there,” Mann explains. “Our alumni is still actively fundraising for our fieldhouse that is located at St. Joseph High School, the Kinsmen Fieldhouse.”