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Red Deer Royals in the 2019 Westerner Days Parade (rdnewsNOW file photo)
Lost Season

Red Deer Royals plan return for next season

Jun 24, 2021 | 12:20 PM

After what’s being described as a ‘lost season’, officials with the Red Deer Royals Marching Band are pleased to be looking forward to a ‘return to normal’ for the next one.

Michael Mann, Red Deer Royals director and Director of Bands for the Red Deer Community Band Society, says members had their first in-person rehearsal in several months last week.

“We suspended our season back in November when Alberta Health changed the regulations and closed down many of the activities in the province,” he recalls. “We had our first rehearsal back on June 16 with our members and we’re having three rehearsals here ending on June 30 just to kind of end our season with the kids getting together to play.”

He notes, however, there are no official performances scheduled at this time.

“We’re going to play for our parents a bit on the 30th since the province hasn’t opened up yet, then that’s it for the season,” says Mann. “So right now we’re kind of doing a recruiting push trying to get ready for next year. If everything goes to plan, we’ll be starting up again on September 8 with full rehearsals back in-person and looking forward to having a strong band for that year.”

Mann says they’re looking forward to playing at their regular gigs around Remembrance Day, Christmas time, and the marching season, come spring.

“All those things are going to happen, we’re hoping,” says Mann. “We’ll be preparing for those events so we can be out there and entertain the public once again. But for a lot of those things, we’re invited to play, so until those invitations come, we don’t have a performance yet.”

With over 50 years of history in the community, Mann says the Royals promote musicianship, leadership, teamwork, community service and pride to local youth from ages 12-21.

“We typically run through the school year starting September and running all the way through June, and then we have a bit of a performance season into July,” he explains. “On average, we perform about 30 to 40 times a year depending on the year. Its a variety of events, from concert bands to marching in parades, to doing a field show, which is very similar to the American college football half-time show, and we also run a winter guard program for our colour guard.”

For youth musicians interested in joining the Royals, Mann says their only requirement is being part of a school band program.

“Right now we’re sitting at about 65 people,” says Mann. “But we would like to see it up over 100 again soon. COVID was a big hit for recruiting. With a lot of the schools not having band running this year or with being online, it was very difficult to get out there and give our pitch.”

For more information, visit www.reddeerroyals.com.