On Monday, May 26th, a bugler and a chamber ensemble performs at the Noble Memorial Day Ceremony. The Symphonic Band, the Honors Wind Ensemble, & the drumline all performing at the Olney & Noble Memorial Day parade and ceremonies.

Here are the details regarding the Noble and 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 and trombone quartet at RCHS
8:35 AM: Change into performance attire, warm-up and run through music
9:05 AM: Bugler & quartet leaves for Noble Cemetery in a school van
9:30 AM: Bugler & quartet arrive at the cemetery in East Noble.
10:00 AM: Noble Ceremony (bugler & quartet 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 & trombone quartet)
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)
10:45 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

[May not perform for 2025]
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 30 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.

The Olney, IL Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday, November 30th at 6:30 PM. The schedule for the combined Symphonic Band, Honors Wind Ensemble, and Color Guard (optional for auxiliary) is as follows:

5:30 PM.............Meet in the RCHS Music Department. Change into uniforms & load sousaphone and drum line cases into the small trailer.

5:55 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

6:15 PM.............Drum major steps off the parade block, band warm-up, and run through the parade tunes.

6:30 PM.............Parade step-off

7:00 PM.............Estimated meet-up with buses near Eagleson's Car Dealership

7:15-7:30 PM....Estimated return to RCHS

I recommend that all students layer up underneath to stay warm. Color guard may wear any holiday garb. Winds & percussion will wear the marching band uniforms (don't forget your marching band shoes and black, crew socks!). Those wearing the marching band uniforms may string lights, tinsel, and wear a Santa's hat, elf hat, reindeer antlers, etc.

INCLEMENT WEATHER PLAN: Should the parade be cancelled, the ceremony will move indoors to the VFW hall. The new call-time is 10am in department shorts, shirts, black crew socks, and black marching band shoes.

The combined Symphonic Band, Honors Wind Ensemble, the cologuard (for those that wish to perform) performs in the Olney Veterans Day Parade scheduled for Friday, November 11th. We are performing in our marching band uniforms for this event. If you do not have a uniform, please contact Mr. Jones or Mrs. Deimel as soon as possible.

The itinerary for the day is as follows:

9:30 AM................Call-time in the rehearsal hall in show/division shirt, shorts & Drillmasters. You may wear sweat pants under the uniform; however, no jeans, please.

9:35 AM................Change into marching band uniforms.

10:00 AM..............Buses arrive at the circle drive at RCHS

10:10 AM..............Load the buses

10:20 AM..............Parade line-up at Trust Band

10:40 AM..............Parade step-off

• Host of Freedom (memorized)

11:00 AM..............Ceremony outside the Richland County Court House. In the event of rain, the event will take place in the VFW hall. You will need:

• Lyre
• Flip folder
• Armed Forces on Parade
• Heave Ho My Lads

12:00 PM.............Estimated return time to RCHS

It is almost that time of the year again! The Marching Tigers (a combination of the Symphonic Band, Honors Wind Ensemble, & any other RCHS Bands student that cares to join) is marching in the Olney Halloween Parade followed by the Fright Night performance on Friday, October 25th, 2024 at Bowers Park!

Students are to dress up in the Halloween spirit for this parade.

While it may not necessarily be warm the day of the parade, I still ask that students drink plenty of fluids to prevent heat related injuries.

The RCHS Bands is also proud to host the 4th annual Fright Night at Bower Park next to PizzaFast following the Olney Halloween Parade. Children of all ages and sizes may attend the free event!

Candy will be handed out to spectators. The Marching Tigers will perform a selection of Halloween tunes & movie themes, while the big screen shows excerpts from the movies.

Show-times are 6:45-7:40 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 on Main St. (showtimes are 6:45-7:10 & 7:15-7:40 pm)

7:45 PM.........................................Pack & return to RCHS

The Halloween Movie and Cookout for RCHS Bands is from 8:30-10:30 p.m. Attendance is not required for the movie and a cookout.

UPDATE: The performance time has been postponed to 7:30 p.m. so that friends and family may attend the RCMS talent show, and the RCHS Final Performance of the 2024 RCHS Marching Tigers.

The RCHS Marching Tigers Final Performance is held in the RCHS stadium at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, October 15th. 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!

Ladies & gentlemen, the Oblong Spooktacular Parade is right around the corner! The parade is hosted in Oblong, IL on Saturday, October 26th, 2024.

The schedule for the Spooktacular Parade is as follows:

4:30 PM.........................................Call-time at RCHS
4:35 PM.........................................Load equipment
5:05 PM.........................................Buses arrive at the circle drive (exit 10)
5:15 PM.........................................Depart for Oblong, IL
6:00 PM.........................................Parade line-up
7:00 PM.........................................Parade step-off
11:00 PM.......................................Estimated return time to RCHS


Parade Route
The Oblong Spooktacular Parade will follow the same parade route as previous years.  The parade will begin at the Oblong City Park, travel west on Main Street (IL Rt. 33) through town, and end at the west end of town by the Oblong Elementary School.  The bands will turn south (left) on Jefferson Street , go 2 blocks, turn east (left) , travel 2 blocks to Adams – turn south (right) on Adams and continue to the Oblong High School. 
 
Concessions at Park
There will be concessions available at the Oblong City Park since there can be a long wait to march.  Debbie’s concession trailer will be there, as well as the local 4-H club, with a variety of foods available.
 
Parade Line-up
Parade bands will need to be at the Oblong City Park no later than 6:00pm for line-up, Also there is no entrance to the park from Main Street.  When arriving in Oblong, either from the east or west, turn north on Taylor Street and go all the way to the end of Taylor.  This brings you to Wisconsin Street, where you will turn east (right) and follow the road around the Oblong Lake. 
 
The buses and equipment trailers will be directed to the high school after unloading. The band will meet up with the buses at the high school following the parade.
            
Post-Parade / Awards
When arriving back at the Oblong High School, the pavilion and concession area will be serving hot food, popcorn, candy and drinks.  A DJ will be there to play music, and students are welcome to dance on the football field.  Please ask your bands to use the trash and recycle containers located around the school grounds.  There will be portable toilets available in the school parking area, and limited indoor restrooms are available at the southeast corner of the school.