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Red Deer Royals enjoying return to normal

The marching show band will perform in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island this summer
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The Red Deer Royals Marching Show Band is currently in the middle of its 2022-23 season. (Photo via Red Deer Royals)

It’s been quite a while since the Red Deer Royals Marching Show Band have been able to experience a regular season.

But the 2022-23 season is looking a lot more normal for the band, which features about 80 young central Alberta musicians, says Royals director Michael Mann.

“The Royals will be touring again after years of getting through COVID – we’re going to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island for a 10-day tour in July,” said Mann, who is also the director of bands for Red Deer Community Band Society.

“Last year was pretty close to normal, there were just some protocols and things like that. This year is pretty much completely back to normal.

“It’s been a great year so far. All of our traditional performances are again happening. We’ve had several concerts in our early season with the concert band. We were at Festival of Trees, our own concerts and Remembrance Day – our annual Lest We Forget performance was back in November.”

The colour guard is currently competing in the Alberta circuit, Mann said.

“Once March and April hit, we go to festivals, our spring concert and then it’s full-tilt into marching band season for us,” he said.

“Our first parade is in Caroline for the May-long weekend. After that, most Saturdays for the next month or so we’ll be busy hitting all of our traditional parades around Alberta, from Sylvan Lake to Sundre to Blackfalds. That includes our own Westerner Days parade here in town. We’ll be off to the (Calgary) Stampede this year as well, which will be exciting.”

Mann said “it’s a strong band” this year.

“We’re very fortunate to have many talented musicians in the Red Deer area who want to be a part of the Red Deer Royals,” said Mann.

The Royals serve as “an outlet” for young musicians who want an extra-musical experience, he added.

“It’s a chance for students to develop new skills and work on their leadership – we have a strong leadership at the Red Deer Royals. We always say it’s like a second family. The kids enjoy hanging out with each other and they work hard to achieve some pretty extraordinary things,” he said.

For more information, visit www.reddeerroyals.com.



sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com

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Sean McIntosh

About the Author: Sean McIntosh

Sean joined the Red Deer Advocate team in the summer of 2017. Originally from Ontario, he worked in a small town of 2,000 in Saskatchewan for seven months before coming to Central Alberta.
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