​Tri-M Music Honor Society, formerly known as Modern Music Masters, is an American high school and middle school music honor society. A program of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), it is designed to recognize students for their academic and musical achievements and to provide leadership and service opportunities to young musicians.

The 2023-2024 Richland County High School Chapter 8170 Tri-M Music Honor Society members are:

ROW 1: Emma Gilreath, Adele Waxler, Joshua Ochs, Ethan Mehl, and Carter Henton

ROW 2: Mr. Weitkamp (sponsor), Jereme Higginbotham, Hadley Heath, River Logan, Alex Schneider, Alaina Parker, Sophie Combs, Molly Fehrenbacher, Lila Balding, Callista Ridgely, and Mr. Jones (sponsor)

Four students from Richland County High School have been selected to participate in the 2026 Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) All-State Ensembles. The event will be held January 28–31, 2026, in Peoria.
These students were chosen through a rigorous audition process, representing the top student-musicians from over 12,000 schools across Illinois. Of approximately 2,400 students who auditioned, only a select few were invited to participate.
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The three RCHS students selected for the All-State Orchestra are Lila Balding (senior), Jereme Higginbotham (junior), and Emma Gilreath (sophomore). Joshua Ochs (junior) was selected to perform in the All-State Band.    

Lila Balding has been selected to participate in the 2026 Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) All-State Orchestra on tenor trombone. She has been a dedicated member of the Richland County High School Band since 2022 and has played an integral role in the Marching Tigers during the 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 marching seasons. During this time, Lila marched the trombone and served as the low brass section leader in 2024 and 2025.

In addition to marching band, Lila has played trombone in the premier Honors Wind ensemble and jazz band since she was a freshman in 2022. Her talent in jazz performance was recognized through her participation in the ILMEA District 5 jazz concert in 2023, 2024, and 2025. She also played first trombone in the ILMEA District 5 concert band in 2024 and the orchestra in 2025. Lila also played euphonium in the Olney Youth Symphonic Band and trombone at the OCC community band.
Beyond her ensemble work, Lila is a committed member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, Chapter 8170, where she has been the secretary for two years, starting in 2024. Additionally, in 2024 and 2025, she also participated in the RCHS musical Pit on second trombone. Lila has also competed in IHSA Solo and Ensemble contests in 2022, 2023, and 2024. She performed “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” in 2022, “Lassus Trombone” in 2023, and “A Million Dreams” in 2024, all of which earned a First Superior rating.

After she graduates in 2026, Lila plans to attend Eastern Illinois University to pursue a career in music education.

Jereme Higginbotham has been selected to participate in the 2026 Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) All-State Orchestra on percussion. A junior at Richland County High School, Jereme has been an active participant in ILMEA District 5 Bands for five years, earning recognition at multiple levels.
During middle school, he performed in ILMEA Junior Band in 7th and 8th grade, ILMEA Junior Jazz Band in 7th grade, and was selected for the All-Illinois Junior Band State Ensemble in 8th grade. At the high school level, he has been a member of ILMEA Senior Orchestra as a freshman, sophomore, and junior.
Jereme is also an integral member of the RCHS Marching Tigers, performing on 3rd bass drum in 2023 and snare drum in 2024 and 2025, serving as drumline section leader in 2025. He has been a member of the Honors Wind Ensemble since 2023 and has played jazz drumset in the school’s jazz band all three years of high school.
A dedicated musician, Jereme has been a member of Tri-M Honor Music Society Chapter 8170 for three years. He earned a Superior rating in his percussion quartet at the 2024 IHSA Solo & Ensemble contest and an Excellent rating with his percussion trio in 2025. He has also contributed to the orchestral pit for RCHS musicals over the past three years.
After graduating in 2027, Jereme plans to pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Joshua Ochs has been selected to participate in the 2026 Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) All-State Band on trumpet. A junior at Richland County High School, Joshua has been playing trumpet since fifth grade at St. Joseph Catholic School in Olney, IL. In addition to trumpet, he is proficient on French horn, mellophone, and flugelhorn.
At RCHS, Joshua is an active member of the Jazz Band, Honors Wind Chamber Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and the RCHS Marching Tigers, where he served as trumpet section leader in 2026. Beyond his contributions to the band program, he participates in the Trio Upward Bound program.
Joshua aspires to pursue a career as either an engineer or a high school band director.

Emma Gilreath has been selected to participate in the 2026 Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) All-State Orchestra on bass clarinet. A sophomore at Richland County High School, Emma is recognized as a standout clarinetist. She serves as clarinet section leader for the RCHS Marching Tigers and is also an active member of the Symphonic Band, Honors Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Band. Emma is a dedicated member of the Tri-M National Honor Society.
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In 2025, she performed with the ILMEA Senior Orchestra on bass clarinet and has earned top honors at the IHSA Solo & Ensemble Contest, receiving a Superior rating and Best of Day recognition.

The Olney, IL Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday, November 29th at 6:30 PM. The schedule for the combined Symphonic Band, and the Honors Wind Ensemble:

5:15 PM.............Meet at RCHS in department clothing (dress warm) & load
5:50 PM.............Walk from the school to parade line-up at the intersection of Scott St. & East St.

6:10 PM.............Set in parade block at parade location
6:30 PM.............Parade step-off
7:40-7:50 PM....Estimated return to RCHS

I recommend that all students layer up underneath to stay warm. We are in our full uniform, minus the shakoes and plumes. That being said, add holiday related items to the uniform, or at the very least wear lots of green and red!

RCHS Bands (a combination of the Symphonic Band, Honors Wind Ensemble, and Color Guard) will march in the Olney Halloween Parade, followed by the Fright Night performance on Friday, October 31, 2025, at Bowers Park.
Seventh and eighth grade students are invited to march with the RCHS Bands for the parade. The attire for the event is Halloween spirit, so dress up in your favorite Halloween costume.
While the weather may not be warm on the day of the parade, students are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids to prevent heat-related injuries.
The RCHS Bands are also proud to host the fifth annual Fright Night at Bowers Park (next to PizzaFast) following the Olney Halloween Parade. The band will perform soundtrack favorites such as Avengers, Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Thriller, and more, while movie and music video clips play on the big screen.
Candy will be handed out to spectators and middle school students. The RCHS Bands will perform a selection of Halloween tunes and movie themes, making this a fun and festive evening for children of all ages.

Show-times are 6:45-7:10 pm, or following the conclusion of the parade.

3:00-4:29 PM................................Change into customs & dinner (on your own)
4:30 PM.........................................Call-time at RCHS & rehearse
5:00 PM.........................................Load equipment & depart for rally location
5:30 PM.........................................Meet at Trust Bank on Main St.
6:00 PM.........................................Parade step-off
6:45 PM.........................................Fright Night Concert in Bower Park next to PizzaFast and across from the City Hall (showtime 6:45-7:10 p.m. - only one performance this year)

7:15 PM.........................................Pack & return to RCHS

The Halloween Movie and Cookout for RCHS Bands & friends is from 8:00-10:00 p.m. Attendance is not required for the movie and a cookout.

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The RCHS Marching Tigers Final Performance is held in the RCHS stadium at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, October 14th, 2025. The performance is open to the public at no cost. The call-time for Marching Tigers winds & percussion is 6:30 pm. The call-time for color guard to put on makeup is at the discretion of the color guard instructor.

We hope to see you there!

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The 2025 Mt. Zion Music Games is scheduled for Saturday, October 11th in Mt. Zion, IL. This is our last field show competition for the season.

Please make sure to bring the following items:​

• Department shirt
• Department shorts
• Black crew socks
• Drillmasters
• 1 quart water cooler filled with water
• Roughly $10-20 in cash for dinner & snacks (lunch is provided)
• Sweatshirt or light jacket, pants, & comfortable shoes. It gets cold!

The schedule for the day is as follows:
9:00 am.................Call-time at RCHS for all Marching Tigers
9:10 am.................Front ensemble loads equipment on trailer while winds, color guard, and drumline practice in the stadium
10:05 am...............Buses arrive at RCHS, exit 10
10:15 pm................Depart for Mt. Zion, IL
12:30 pm................Arrive at Mt. Zion High School (305 S. Henderson)
12:35 pm...............Lunch provided by the Olney Music Boosters
1:00 pm.................Unload instruments, & equipment
1:45 pm..................Mental warm-up at trailer in full uniform
2:00 pm..................Meet event guides
2:10 pm..................Report to warmup
2:15 pm..................Warm-up (Location B)
2:45 pm..................Move to staging area
2:55 pm..................Arrive at the gate
3:00 pm.....................Perform at the Mt. Zion Marching Music Games (Class 3A)
3:15 pm..................Return to buses to load equipment & instruments
4:00 pm..................Departs for Olney, IL
6:30 pm..................Estimated arrival in Olney, IL

So that students may return in time for the homecoming dance, we are not staying for the awards ceremony.