RCHS Music Department friends, family, and students. My name is Christopher Jones, director of bands at Richland County High School, with information pertaining to the upcoming Disney/Cocoa Beach trip, and the 2023 marching band season.

We are only a few weeks away from the 2023 RCHS Music Department trip to Disney World & Cocoa Beach! I would like to remind parents, family, and students that are participating in the trip about the informational meeting Monday, May 1st at 6 PM in the Richland County Performing Arts Center on the campus of Richland County High School. We will discuss the itinerary, pass out travel bags, sign up for bus seats, discuss PhotoVision, as well as answer any questions that you may have regarding the trip. Again, this meeting is tomorrow at 6 PM. I anticipate the meeting will last less than an hour.

Immediately following tomorrow’s Disney World & Cocoa Beach meeting is a meeting pertaining to the 2023 marching band season. That meeting is at 7 PM. It is also in the Richland County Performing Arts Center.

Until then, please feel free to contact me should you have any questions. I may be reached at [email protected], or at (618) 393-2191 ext. 3153, at [email protected], or via Remind101. Thank you for your time.

On Monday, May 29th, a bugler and a chamber ensemble performs at the Noble Memorial Day Ceremony. The Symphonic Band, the Honors Wind Ensemble, & the drumline are all performing at the Olney Memorial Day parade and ceremony.

Here are the details regarding the Noble & Olney Memorial Day Parade Ceremonies:

NOBLE: The Cornerstone Community Church and the Mayor of Noble hosts a Memorial Day ceremony at the cemetery in East Noble. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held in the Cornerstone Community Church (160 E. Elm St. Noble, IL). Immediately after the Noble ceremony, the quintet and bugler will join the band at the Olney VFW.

OLNEY: The VFW is hosting a Memorial Day parade and ceremony. The parade will begin at the Olney VFW. The ceremony will take place immediately after the conclusion of the parade at Haven Hill Cemetery (just north of the City Park). In the event of rain, the ceremony shall be held in the VFW hall.

The uniform is khaki shorts, black polo shirts, socks, belt (preferably black), and either Drillmaster shoes or tennis shoes. Students will also need flip folders, lyres, and instruments.

The times are as follows:
Cornerstone Community Church at the Cemetery in East Noble

8:30 AM: Call-time for bugler & quintet at RCHS
8:35 AM: Change into performance attire, warm-up & run through music
9:05 AM: Bugler & saxophone ensemble leaves for Noble Cemetery in a school van
9:30 AM: Bugler & saxophone ensemble arrive at the cemetery in East Noble.
10:00 AM: Noble Ceremony (bugler & saxophone ensemble only)
IMMEDIATELY AFTER GOD BLESS AMERICA & TAPS: Return to Olney and join the band at the Olney VFW.

9:30 AM: Call-time at RCHS (all but bugler & saxophone ensemble)
10:00 AM: Load bus and depart for Olney VFW followed by Haven Hill Cemetery
10:15 AM: Parade line-up at the Olney VFW or at the cemetery (based on time)
10:30 AM: Parade step-off (parade begins)
11:00 AM: Olney Memorial Day ceremony at Haven Hill Cemetery.

I anticipate the parade and the ceremony won't last longer than an hour and a half, which will put the band back at the school around 12-12:30 PM.

The band is performing the following songs:
TAPS (Noble ceremony only)
​God Bless America (Noble ceremony only)
Hosts of Freedom
Star Spangled Banner

[Not performing for 2023]
Army
Navy
Marines
Coast Guard
Air Force
Merchant Marines

Please bring water with you to this event. I encourage students to bring a water canteen. Canteens/coolers need to go on the bus. Please drink plenty of water!

I know that this falls on Memorial Day weekend, falls during the summer, and many families will be out of town. That being said, we need as many RCHS Bands members to this performance as possible. All total, the combined Honors Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Band are around 35 students during the 4th term. This is a record low for the band program! We want to support the cities of Olney & Noble (and our veterans) that support us. For us to do this, we need your help. Students, please make every effort to be at this event. It means a lot to this community.

Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

Parents, guardians, and students,

April is nearly over, which means that it is nearly time to wrap up the 2022-2023 school year. We have four remaining performances!

Sunday, May 7th is the RCHS Bands Spring Concert at 3 PM in the Richland County Performing Arts Center. This concert features the Honors Wind Ensemble, as well as the Symphonic Band.

On Sunday, May 14th, the augmented brass quintet (which includes a couple of percussionists and a couple of woodwinds) perform at the Richland County High School 2023 Graduation Ceremony, which takes place in the Ron Herrin Gym. The graduation ceremony is from 3-5 pm. The call-time for graduation is 2 pm in the band room. The attire for the venue is concert black-and-whites (dresses and tuxedos). Only eight students are involved in this performance.

Monday, May 29th is Memorial Day. Combined members from the Symphonic Band, the Honors Wind Ensemble, and the drumline are involved in the parade and ceremony in Olney, as well as the ceremony in Noble. You may find more details pertaining to the two events by clicking HERE.

DISNEY WORLD & COCOA BEACH TRIP MEETING
This meeting is for all students and their parents/guardians participating in the Disney World & Cocoa Beach trip. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 1st at 6 PM in the Richland County Performing Arts Center (RCPAC) on the campus of Richland County High School. We will discuss the itinerary of the trip, hotel lodging, performances, bus seating chart, the importance of sun screen and hydration, Photovision, and more.

PLEASE NOTE: Students that wish to perform with the band at Disney World that are not enrolled in a band during the fourth term need to report to rehearsals either at 7 AM, or at 2:30 PM starting the week of May 8th. For more information, please review the "UPCOMING SPECIAL REHEARSALS" section of this post.

2023 MARCHING BAND SEASON MEETING
This meeting is also on Monday, May 1st. The meeting begins at 7 PM (shortly after the Disney World & Cocoa Beach meeting) in the Richland County Performing Arts Center. We will discuss the upcoming preseason camp, summer rehearsals, the season rehearsal schedules, performances, fees, as well as an introduction of staff and student-leadership. We will also introduce the 2023 marching band show!

On Monday, May 8th, the day after the RCHS Bands Spring Concert, the band will take a day to collect music and listen to the the concert recording. Starting May 9th, the 7:00-7:50 AM rehearsals focus on preparing for the graduation ceremony, preparing for the Memorial Day parade and ceremonies, as well as the Disney performance. The schedule is as follows: 

GRADUATION BRASS QUINTET (PLUS FRIENDS):
The eight students involved in this ensemble will rehearse from 7:00-7:50 AM on...

Tuesday, May 9th (choir room)
Wednesday, May 10th (band room)
Thursday, May 11th (choir room)
Friday, May 12th (band room)

MEMORIAL DAY BAND & DISNEY BAND:
Those participating in the Olney Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, as well as the Noble Memorial Day Ceremony, will rehearse from 7:00-7:50 AM on...

Tuesday, May 9th (band room)
Thursday, May 11th (band room)
Monday, May 15th (band room)
Tuesday, May 16th (band room)
Wednesday, May 17th (band room)


PLEASE NOTE: Students that perform with the band on Memorial Day, that are not enrolled in a band during the fourth term, must report for the following rehearsals:

7-7:50 AM REHEARSALS: May 9, 11, 15, 16, and 17; or...
2:30-3:00 PM REHEARSALS: May 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, and 17

All students, prior to the end of the term, please make sure to take home all personal items. This includes personal instruments, marching band shoes, clothes, book bags, and copies of music. No personal items may be left in the RCHS Music Department after May 19th.

Likewise, all RCHS instruments, music, leather folders, tuners, and musical accessories must be returned prior to the end of the term. Lockers must be empty and clean.

That's all I've got, folks! As always, please feel free to contact me should you have any questions, comments, or concerns. I may be reached at (618) 393-2191 ext. 3153, through Skyward, or by email at [email protected], or via Remind101.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have unfortunate news. I was made aware that every individual was billed an additional $154 for the upcoming 2023 RCHS Music Department trip to Florida. Mr. Weitkamp and I were not aware of this change until just before the email that was sent to each of you by Bob Rogers Travel.

Why were we billed an extra $154? The reason is simple. We have to pay more for transportation. Included in your payments are three day access to the Disney parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios), hotel lodging, some meals on the Disney property, transportation between the hotel and the parks, and rides to-and-from Florida via motor coaches. The rates are determined by how many paying members are attending the trip. When everyone registered in October of 2021, we fell within the 90-99 travelers rate. Unfortunately, we lost several individuals since then, which brought us down to 85 participants. With fewer people traveling in the motor coaches, Bob Rogers Travel has to increase the cost so that our transportation cost is covered.

That's the bad news. The good news is that I was able to work with Bob Rogers Travel to lower the additional cost increase to $118.

I know money is tight. I understand that you may be allowed an extension to cover the remaining amount to Bob Rogers Travel until May 5th, if you contact the company. The phone number for the travel agency is 800-373-1423.

I know this is small consolation. I wish I could do more. Please feel free to contact me should you have any further questions. I may be reached at (618) 393-2191 ext. 3153, by Remind, or by email at [email protected].