A big thank you from Dr. Franklin from McKendree University for working with the Honors Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band today! He left Lebanon, IL at 4 am to be with us. We all learned a lot, and we sincerely appreciate his time!

For more details pertaining to the band program at McKendree University, please see the contact information found within the flyer below.

The Sliva Concert scheduled for Sunday, March 8th, 2020 is canceled. The concert has been canceled for multiple reasons: 1) construction, 2) multiple performances surrounding 3/8, & 3) schedule conflicts.

Want to catch the Symphonic Band and Honors Wind Ensemble in concert? Visit us at the Lincoln Trail Band Festival, IHSA Solo & Ensemble Contest, and the EIU Midwinter Invitational,

The RCHS Honors Wind Ensemble is performing at the 2020 ILMEA Large Group Festival on Saturday, March 14th at the Doudna Fine Arts Center at Eastern Illinois University. The performance attire is concert black-and-white (tuxes or dresses) that were issued out to the students at the beginning of the term. Parents may sign out their sons & daughters following the last RCHS performance that morning in the assigned homeroom.

Food and drinks are available in the food court at the University Union. Students may purchase food and drinks before the performance.

The schedule for the day is as follows:

ILMEA Large Group Festival
(TIMES UPDATED 2/25/2020 DUE TO SCHEDULE CHANGE)
9:30 AM.......................Call-time at RCHS
9:30 AM..........................Buses arrive at exit 22 at RCHS
9:40-10:59 AM.............Travel to Charleston, IL
11:00-11:29 AM...........Unload
11:30-12:29 PM...........Lunch at the food our in the University Union
12:30-12:59 PM...........Change into concert attire
1:00-1:29 PM...............Honors Wind Ensemble warm-up
1:30-1:59 PM.................Honors Wind Ensemble performance (Dvorak Hall)
2:00-2:29 PM................Band clinic
2:30-4:00 PM................Pack bus, travel to RCHS, unpack, & dismiss! (est. time)

CONTEST ADDRESS: Doudna Fine Arts Center is located at 1860 7th St, Charleston, IL 61920

PACKING LIST:

• Concert Attire
  • Dress Shoes
  • Dress Socks
  • Bow Tie
  • Vest
  • Dress
• Instrument
• Extra reeds, valve oil, slide grease, etc.
• Mutes
• Pencils
• Sheet Music & Folder
• Cash or sack lunch

Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions at [email protected], or 393-2101 ext. 3137.

The IHSA Solo & Ensemble Contest for 2020 is nearly upon us! I have not yet received the performance times and location for each entry for Saturday, March 7th. Once we receive the performance times from IHSA, you may find performance times & locations at the bottom of this email.

The day's itinerary is as follows:

7:30 AM - Meet in the RCHS Rehearsal Hall
7:40 AM - Depart for Lawrenceville, IL
8:15 AM - Estimated arrival at Lawrenceville High School
3:00 PM - Depart Lawrenceville for Olney
3:30 PM - Estimated return to RCHS

Students may sign-out with a guardian following performances. Please sign-out with Mr. Jones (band) or Mr. Weitkamp (choir) before leaving.

The address for Lawrence High School is 2200 James St, Lawrence, IL 62439.

Packing List: Performance attire (you do not have to wear the concert black-and-white attire, but dress attire is required), instrument, extra reeds, musical accessories, sheet music, lunch money.

We will not leave Lawrenceville High School until the event is over; however, students may buy lunch from Lawrenceville Band Boosters.

Performance Fees:
Accompanied solos = $20
Unaccompanied solos = $10
Duet = $9 (per student)
Trio = $8 (per student)
Quartet = $7 (per student)
Quintet = $6 (per student)

Each participating student is required to pay the performance fee. Students & parents may elect to use funds that have built up in the student's band activity account. If this is the case, payment will show $0 and the fee will be deducted from the account balance automatically. The due date for fees is February 21st. Please visit https://www.cuttime.net for and log in for balance and invoices.

PERFORMANCE TIMES WERE POSTED ON MARCH 2ND AT 10 AM.

This band festival was formed to afford the students an opportunity to perform in a concert band consisting of only high school student-musicians of the Little Illini Conference, under the direction of a guest conductor. We are fortunate for the opportunity for the Symphonic Band to participate in the event. There are some that are unable to attend this year, and have elected to write a research project. Those students attending may be found at the bottom of this post.

The festival is held at Casey-Westfield High School. There is no cost associated with the Lincoln Trail Band Festival, aside from food money.

Buffet Lunch:  ($11.50/person) Chicken Strips, Pork BBQ, Oven Baked Potatoes, Green Beans, Salad/Bread Bar, Chocolate Cake, Cookies, Iced Tea, Lemonade

Dinner:  ($4.00/person) Casey’s Pizza, Soft Drinks


THE ITINERARY FOR THE DAY IS AS FOLLOWS:

7:20-7:30...........MEET AT RCHS

7:30......................DEPART FOR CASEY, IL

8:30–9:00...........ARRIVE AT CASEY-WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL (306 E Edgar Ave. Casey IL)

9:00–11:15.........REHEARSAL (Breaks will be taken at guest conductor’s discretion)

11:15–12:45.......LUNCH (Richard's Farm)

12:45–4:30..........REHEARSAL (Breaks will be taken at guest conductor’s discretion)

4:30-5:30..............DINNER (pizza and then change into concert attire)

5:30........................WARM-UP AND TUNE

6:00.......................CONCERT

7:30.......................DEPART FOR OLNEY, IL

9:00.......................ESTIMATED RETURN TIME TO RCHS


The concert is open to the public for $2.00 per person. Students may be signed out immediately after the concert.

Please feel free to contact me should there be any further questions at [email protected] or at (618) 393-2191 ext. 3137.

The combined Honors Wind Ensemble & the Symphonic Band (4th term) are participating in the Band Day at Six Flags St. Louis on Saturday, April 25th. 

The two bands will combine for the music festival. Schools participating in Six Flags Music Festival receive the opportunity to perform their selection of songs in front of a panel of nationally acclaimed judges. Judges will give their comments and every band receives a recording of their performance along with a certificate of participation. Bands who score a superior rating will receive a plaque for their achievement.

Performance attire is the orange RCHS department shirt ($10), jeans, and tennis shoes. Students need not purchase a new department shirt should they already have a shirt.

The cost for students to participate in the trip is $52.50. Students may use funds from their RCHS Bands Student Account to cover the cost. Parents and family may attend for $32.50 per person. Payments are due Thursday, March 11th. Meals are not provided. Students should bring either money or sack meals for lunch and dinner.

BAND FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:
6:00 am......................................................Call-time at RCHS (rehearsal hall)
6:10-9:30 am..............................................Travel to Eureka, MO
9:30-2:44 pm..............................................Fun in the park!
2:45 pm......................................................Call-time at the front gates
3:30 pm......................................................Warm-up
4:00 pm......................................................Performance at the Palace Theater
4:30 pm......................................................Load instruments
5:00 pm......................................................Dinner at McDonald's
9:00 pm......................................................Estimated return time to Olney

APPROPRIATE ATTIRE FOR THE WATERPARK:
To participate in the water park activities, you must wear a swimsuit. We recommend nylon swimsuits with liners. We don’t allow guests to enter the water areas wearing thong bathing suits, regular shorts (including khaki and cargo styles), long pants, street clothes, cut-off shorts, or denim. Because they can damage the rides, we also do not allow swimwear with buttons, snaps, rivets or zippers. But, don’t worry—if you don’t have the appropriate clothing, swimsuits can be purchased on site! Here are more guidelines to help you pick out the best attire for your trip to Hurricane Harbor:

• Shoes are not allowed in any attraction.
• Aqua socks/water shoes are not permitted on some slides.
• Swimsuits are only allowed in Hurricane Harbor, and must be appropriate for a family environment.
• Shoes, proper shorts, jean and cover-up attire are all required when returning to the theme park.

PACKING LIST:

• Instrument
• Extra Reeds
• Mutes
• Mallets/Sticks
• Small Percussion (triangle, tambourine, etc.)
• Sheet Music
• Department Shirt
• Jeans
• Tennis Shoes
• Hoodie or Light Jacket
• Hat (optional)
• Swimwear
• Towel
• Sun Screen
• Money or sack meals (lunch & dinner)

FIRST AID:
Our First Aid Station is located by Hurricane Bay on the East side of the Volcano. Our trained staff of Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians are always on duty during waterpark hours.

SIX FLAGS WEBSITE:
https://www.sixflags.com/stlouis

If you are permitting your student to attend the field trip, please sign the form and return to Mr. Jones by prior to the trip. You may find a copy of the permission slip in the link at the bottom of this post.

Please feel free to call or email me should you have any questions at [email protected] or by calling (618) 393-2191 ext. 3137.

On Friday, February 21st, the Honors Wind Ensemble will attend the EIU Midwinter Invitational at the Doudna Fine Arts Center on the EIU Campus. This is an all-day clinic hosted by by the EIU band directors, and applied faculty. Honors Wind will begin the event with a tour of the campus, a one-hour clinic with Dr. Neal & Prof. Boggs, followed by break out session (small groups), and concludes with a concert by the EIU Wind Symphony. RCHS does not perform on the concert.

The attire for the day is comfortable, school appropriate clothes. Students need to bring money or a sack lunch/dinner for both lunch and dinner. Meals are on campus.

Admission is free to the EIU Wind Symphony and Faculty Showcase Concert in the evening for students.

SCHEDULE FOR FEBRUARY 21ST:
9:30am........Meet in the rehearsal hall / buses arrive at RCHS exit 21
9:40am........Depart for Charleston, IL
12:30pm......Arrive at the Doudna Fine Arts Center at Eastern Illinois Univ.
1:00pm........Charleston H.S. & Richland County H.S. Campus Tour
2:00pm........Charleston H.S. & Richland County H.S. Band Clinic
3:00pm........Break Out Sessions** (See below for details.)
4:00pm........Break
4:15pm........Instrument Specific Fundamental Sessions (taught by EIU faculty)
5:15pm........Dinner Break (Charleston restaurant)
7:30pm........EIU Wind Symphony/Faculty Showcase Concert
9:00pm........Depart for Olney
10:15 pm.....Estimated arrival time at RCHS