History: Red Deer Royals

The history of music and bands in Red Deer and area is a long-standing tradition that dates back to April of 1902 when Canon Joshua Hinchliffe and H.G. Stone proposed the formation of the first Citizen’s Band. The band grew and waned through the 1910s, 20’s, 30’s and until the time that world war 2 broke out. With so many men joining the ranks of the military, it was temporarily disbanded and the military band from the A-20 Army camp took on the role of the Red Deer Community Band.

After the war, the band had little to no activity in Red Deer until the Optimist Club formed a community trumpet and drum corp in 1961. The Elks formed a junior concert band for students in 1963, and the

Department of National Defense disbanded the military band in 1966 leaving their band members with no outlet. Councilman Ron Dale was one of these members and spearheaded the creation of the Red Deer Community Band Society.

In 1968, City Council endorsed the creation of such an organization. Then, in 1969, the Red Deer Community Band Society was formally incorporated with both a senior Monday night adult band and a junior band, which was ultimately to become known as the Red Deer Royals Concert and Marching Show Band.

Having had many Band Directors over the years, the society changed and grew into the organization we now know.

TIMELINE

1968 – 1971: The first director was Vic Wright, a band teacher from Ponoka. Under his leadership, the society had two beginner bands; one junior band, and one senior band. The band rehearsed at the old Central School. Sadly, this school was destroyed by fire in April 1970 and the band lost its music library, music stands, and privately owned instruments. Rehearsals were moved to St. Thomas Aquinas school.

1971 – 1973: Dick Campion became the first full time, salaried Director. The society now consisted of two adult bands, the start of a Drum and Fife Corp., one senior band, and one beginner junior band. Mr. Champion left the Red Deer Community Band Society to begin farming.

1973 – 1977: Frank Connell became director in September of 1973. Mr. Connells’ time as director saw many changes within the organization. Mr. Connell was director of one beginner adult band, one senior adult band, one junior band, and one beginner band. In January 1974, Parkland Lions Club donated funds for the purchase of performance uniforms. It was under the leadership of Mr. Connell that the senior band was organized to form a marching band while continuing to perform as a concert band. This senior band was renamed “The Red Deer Royals” and the junior band became known as “The Red Deer Regals”. Mr. Connell also introduced the idea of international touring for the musicians of the Red Deer Royals when, in 1976, the band travelled to England and Scotland for a month-long tour. Sadly, Mr. Connell was not able to travel with the band for the entire tour due to his health. Mr. Connell passed away while in the position of Director of Bands.

1978 – 1991: Mr. Alexander “Jigger” Lee became one of the longest-serving band directors of the Red Deer Community Band Society, working tirelessly to grow the membership numbers of the bands. By 1986, the society fielded The Regals, The Royals, a jazz band, and three adult bands. The Lions Club of Red Deer provided funding for the purchase of new marching uniforms as the band was to march in the International Lions Club convention parade in San Francisco. In July 1984 the band performed in San Francisco, Disneyland, and the San Diego zoo. The Royals also travelled to The Kelowna Regatta, Expo 1986, Alaska, and Florida. While at the Kelowna Regatta, the Red Deer Royals performed a field show for the very first time.

1991 – 2001: Mr. Keith Mann became the new Director of Bands in the fall of 1991. Mr. Mann, a dedicated and talented bandleader, brought a new direction to the society. The Regals were disbanded and The Red Deer Royals became "The Red Deer Royals Marching Show Band", with members ranging in age from 12 to 21. Mr. Mann encouraged community support for the bands of the Red Deer Community Band Society and involved community band leaders to conduct the adult bands. Mr. Mann was a strong believer in the benefits of international travel for the band members. With him, The Red Deer Royals travelled to Disneyland, Australia, and performed on a cruise in Mexico. The Red Deer Royals also began to compete as a show band in the World Association of Marching Show Bands championship events, beginning in 1998 in England and France. In 2001, the band was preparing for their tour and competition in The Netherland and Germany when Mr. Mann was killed in a motorcycle accident.

2001 – 2012: Rob Goring stepped in to ensure the members could continue with their tour. Rob directed bands in Alberta for thirty-six years, first as a school band teacher, and later as a community band director, who, under his direction have achieved Gold Medals in Canada’s national concert band festival. Rob was the founding director of the Red Deer All-City Band, a community youth band who became national Gold Medalists and national champions. Rob directed the Red Deer Community Band Society’s flagship community adult band from 1991 until 2001. He became Director of Bands for the Red Deer Community Band Society and Director of the Red Deer Royals in May 2001. Rob has been a teacher, vice-principal, and principal with the Red Deer Public School District and a college and university instructor with Red Deer College and the University of Alberta. Over his career, he had the honour of teaching students across the levels, from kindergarten to fourth-year university. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a Master’s degree in School Leadership from The University of Alberta. In 2005 Rob was a recipient of the provincial government’s Alberta Centennial Medal for “outstanding service to the people and province of Alberta”. In 2007 he was inducted into the international bandmasters’ fraternity Phi Beta Mu.

During his time as the Royals Director, Rob and his staff led the band to many impressive achievements, including:

2001 Gold Medal at the WAMSB (*) World Championships in Potsdam, Germany
2002 First Class Standing at “Fanfare” competition at Calgary Stampede, Silver Medal at Edmonton’s Klondike Days “Goldrush” competition
Musical Grand Champion at Edmonton’s Klondike Days Parade
2003 Gold Medal at the WAMSB World Championships in Monza, Italy
2004 Top Colour Guard/Drum Majors at the Calgary Stampede Parade and 4th band overall
2005 Gold Medal at the Alberta Centennial Marching Show Band Championships in Red Deer
First place band in Red Deer’s Westerner Parade
Musical Grand Champion at Edmonton’s Klondike Days Parade
2007 2nd runner up (Colour Guard and Band) in the Calgary Stampede Parade
Silver Medal in the MACBDA (**) competition in Calgary
Musical Grand Champion at Edmonton’s Klondike Days Parade
2008 Musical Grand Champion in the Calgary Stampede Parade. Best Canadian, Best Senior, Best Overall
Musical Grand Champion in Edmonton’s “Capital Ex” Parade
2009 Silver Medal at the WAMSB World Championships in Kerkrade, The Netherlands
2010 2nd place overall and 2nd place Colour Guard in the Calgary Stampede Parade.
Musical Grand Champion in Edmonton’s “Capital Ex” Parade
Silver Medal standing in Showbands Live, Calgary Stampede
2011 2nd place overall band and 2nd place Colour Guard in the Calgary Stampede Parade
Bronze Medal standing in the MACBDA and Showbands Live performances in Calgary
Gold Medal at the WAMSB World Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2012 Top Canadian Band and 3rd overall in the Calgary Stampede Parade
Gold Medal and 4th place overall at the WAMSB World Championships in Calgary
2001-2012 Annually received the Superior Band Award and the Community Band Scholarship at the Red Deer Festival of the Performing Arts

In addition, the band undertook five major international tours during Rob’s tenure as Director.

2001 The Netherlands and Germany
2003 Italy
2006 Australia
2009 Ireland, Germany and The Netherlands
2011 Malaysia

Between 2001 and 2012 the Royals gave approximately 450 public performances, including at many prestigious events such as the Grey Cup on two occasions, the Olympic Torch Rally, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Stampeders games, The World Masters Games, Portraits of Heroes, the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, and many more.

2012 – Present: When Mr. Rob Goring retired as Director of Bands after 11 years, Michael Mann became the new Director of Bands for the Red Deer Community Band Society. During his time with the Royals, Michael Mann has led the Royals to many outstanding achievements thus far, including:

2013 2nd overall marching band in the Calgary Stampede Parade
Top Band in the Edmonton K-Days Parade
2014 2nd place, Italian Marching Show Band Championships, Lecco, Italy
2015 1st place Band Auxiliary in the Calgary Stampede Parade
2nd place Senior Band in the Calgary Stampede Parade
2001-2016 Recipients of the Community Band Scholarship, Red Deer Festival of the Performing Arts
2016 Audience Choice Award, Showbands Live, Calgary Stampede
Top Band overall in the Edmonton K-Days Parade
2017 1st place in the Ponoka Stampede Parade
2nd place at Showbands Live, Calgary Stampede
2nd place Senior Band in the Calgary Stampede Parade
Gold Medal in the 2017 World Music Contest, Kerkrade, The Netherlands
2018 2nd place at Winterguard Season Opener, Calgary (Royals Winterguard)
3rd place at Arts in Motion (Royals Winterguard)
Judges Choice Award in the Calgary Stampede Parade
2nd place at Showbands Live, Calgary Stampede
Mayor's Special Award
2019 1st place at Winterguard Season Opener, Calgary (Royals Winterguard)
1st place at Arts in Motion, Calgary (Royals Winterguard)
Gold Medal - 2019 World Association of Marching Show Bands, Calgary
1st place in the Street Parade, Celtic Band Festival, Limerick, Ireland
1st place Soundsport Showband, Celtic Band Festival, Limerick, Ireland
1st place World Association of Marching Show Band Competition, Celtic Band Festival, Limerick, Ireland
Irish Marching Band Association Premier Class Award, Celtic Band Festival, Limerick, Ireland
High Visual Award, Irish Marching Band Association, Celtic Band Festival, Limerick, Ireland
High Brass Award, Irish Marching Band Association, Celtic Band Festival, Limerick, Ireland
High Effect Award, Irish Marching Band Association, Celtic Band Festival, Limerick, Ireland

Under his direction, the band has taken part in the following international tours thus far:

2014 Italy
2017 Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium
2019 England and Ireland

Currently, the Red Deer Community Band Society has a Monday night adult band, a Tuesday night adult band, a novice adult band, Jazz Explosion, an adult marching band, and The Red Deer Royals Concert and Marching Show Band. Community band directors continue to conduct the adult bands and Mr. Mann supplies his time and expertise to the Red Deer Royals.

OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS

2004/05, the Red Deer Royals replaced the 25-year-old marching uniforms with a whole new look of black and red tunics, Shako hats with plumes and black bottoms.
2013, with the gracious support of the Rotary Clubs of Red Deer, the Red Deer Royals were able to replace the 30-year-old concert attire with a new concert dress consisting of red and black jackets, white tuxedo shirts and black tuxedo pants, completing the ensemble with a back cross-over tie.

The Red Deer Royals continue to be musical ambassadors, demonstrating their award-winning marching and musical skills in parades and field shows throughout Central Alberta and the world.