The year is starting on an optimistic note for the Red Deer Royals.

Not only did the community youth band receive official sa国际传媒楻ed Deer ambassadorsa国际传媒� status from council, but also received $250,000 from the municipality towards the construction of a fieldhouse at the new St. Josephsa国际传媒檚 High School in Timberlands.

Band director Michael Mann said itsa国际传媒檚 an honour to be officially recognized as Red Deer ambassadors, a role he feels his band had unofficially taken on for years.

His 90-some band members are also thrilled to hear that construction on their new Red Deer Royals home base is four months ahead of schedule sa国际传媒� meaning they will be able to start using the fieldhouse for rehearsals by early April.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e very excited,sa国际传媒� said Mann, whosa国际传媒檚 preparing the teenage musicians for an international competition this summer. The Royals will head to The Netherlands, with stops in Germany and Belgium, right after marching in the Westerner Days Parade.

Being able to rehearse in one large space sa国际传媒� a structure big enough to accommodate the whole marching band and colour guard sa国际传媒� is a relief after having to move around different temporary rehearsal spaces around Central Alberta, Mann added.

The Royals, who will share the fieldhouse with Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools, are now on their way towards covering their $2.7 million share of construction costs. The long-term agreement with Catholic district ensures the Royals have appropriate rehearsal and performance space thatsa国际传媒檚 wheelchair accessible and will include some acoustic features.

The Royals will have a 50th birthday celebration in 2019 sa国际传媒� the same year the Canada Winter Games come to Red Deer and the marching band will help entertain the athletes.

The band performs at annual events around Alberta and has competed in Europe, Australia, the United States and Asia.

lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com