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Biographies

Conductor - Keith Mann

Associate Conductor - Michael Mann

Color Guard Instructor - Jeff Prior

Music Arranger - Ralph Ford

Conductor - Keith Mann: Director of Bands at Red Deer College (Alberta, Canada), Mr. Mann has served as a guest conductor, lecturer, clinician, and adjudicator throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe.  He is a graduate of the University of Alberta and Washington State University and has taught/conducted instrumental music at all levels.  As well as the Royals, Mr. Mann is also the Director of Bands for the Red Deer Community Band Society and a former conductor of the Calgary Stampede Show Band.  Mann also served as the founding Chair of the Red Deer College School of Music from 1979 through 1988.
  As Director of Bands at Red Deer College, Mr. Mann has conducted Symphonic Winds, Chamber Winds, and Chamber Orchestra and has directed Studio Lab Jazz Combo and the Collegiate Scholarship Ensemble.  Before joining the staff of Red Deer College, Mann was Director of Bands for the Innisfail School (County of Red Deer), and Officer Commanding, RC(Air)C School of Music, retiring with the rank of Major.
  Mr. Mann us currently a national officer and a Past President of the Canadian Band Association, founding Chair of the Canadian Concert Band Festival, and Music Director for Canadian Youth on Tour.  He established the Canadian Band Journal, serving as its editor for the past twenty-two years, and helped initiate the National Youth Band of Canada in 1978.  mann is a past Chairman of the North American Band Directors Coordinating Council and is a voting member on the boards of the Canadian Music Centre, Musicfest Canada, International Music Festivals, and the John Philip Sousa Foundation.  Mr. Mann is currently serving as President for the NAMM Affiliated Music Business Institutions and President of Phi Beta Mu International.
  Awards to Mr. Mann's credit include receiving the inaugural "Band Director of the Year" from the Alberta Band Association in 1974.  In 1983, Mann was selected as one of the "Ten Outstanding Band Directors" in the US and Canada by School Musician Magazine, as well as being listed in "Who's Who in the Commonwealth", "Making America Musical", and other similar publications.  Mann has been awarded the National Band Association "Citation of Excellence" for "and outstanding contribution to bands and band music", the "Sousa Order of Merit", the "Canada Medal" for "service to the nation," WIBC's "Phoenix Award", Canada's "National Music Award", the "Alberta Achievement Award", Phi Beta Mu's "David Peterkin Award" in recognition of "an outstanding contribution to band", and Canada's "Commemorative Medal", in recognition of "significant contribution to compatriots, community, and to Canada".
  Most recently, Keith Mann was awarded the American Band Masters Association's "Edwin Franko Goldman Memorial Citation", "in Recognition of Distinguished Contributions in the Interests of Bands and Band Music in America", and the Midwest Clinic's " International Award", "in recognition of Outstanding contributions and Dedication to Instrumental Music Education".

Associate Conductor - Michael Mann: Michael Mann has a Bachelor of Music in Secondary School Music and has competed the requirements for teacher certification from the University of Calgary.  Currently, Mann is the band director at both River Glen and Poplar Ridge Schools.  Mr. Mann is also active as a percussion clinician and performer.  He has performed with h University of Calgary Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble, and the Calgary Civic Orchestra.  From 1992-1995, Mr. Mann held the position of percussion instructor with the Calgary Stetson Show Band.  Presently, he is the Associate Director of the Red Deer Royals, and performs with the Red Deer College Symphonic Winds and the Red Deer Symphonic Orchestra ans is on the staff witht eh Red Deer College Conservatory of Music as a percussion instructor.

Color Guard Instructor - Jeff Prior: Jeff started his performance career at the age of ten in various theater projects.  At the age of 11 he joined the Red Deer Royals.  Starting as a trombone player, he quicky gained knowledge in other brass instruments.  Jeff further gained performance experience with performances in California, Florida, Washington, and Australia.  In 1993, he received the John Phillip Sousa Award for constantly striving for musical excellence.  After nine years with the band, Prior took on a new project as a member of the Color Guard.  After being a member of the Color Guard last season, Jeff has returned as an instructor this year.  Prior is confident there will be numerous successes in the year to come and wishes the band the best representing Canada on tour this year.

Music Arranger - Ralph Ford: Ralph Ford's compositions and arrangements for band have been commissioned and performed by high school and collegiate bands throughout the United States and Canada.  His music has been premiered at such prestigious events as the American Bandmasters Association Convention, the Music Educators National Conference, and the inaugural parades of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush.  As well as the Royals 1998 field show, Mr. Ford has written for the University of Michigan Alumni Band, the University of Ohio, an numerous high school bands.  He is in constant demand as a composer/arranger, clinician, technology consultant, adjudicator, and conductor.
  Ralph has composed music and jingles for award winning television commercials, video productions and news broadcasts. including all program music that is broadcast daily on Montgomery, Alabama's NBC affiliate, WSFA Channel 12.  His television commercial and jingle for Nantze Springs bottled water was recently named "Best Multimedia Ad Campaign" by the International Bottled Water Association.  Mr. Ford is proud to be an arranger for Warner Brothers Publications with two of his arrangements to be included in their 1998 catalogue.
 

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