Congratulations to Austin Vaughn (bassoon), Arianna Henby (flute), Madison Hinderliter (trumpet), and Adrian Bower (trumpet) for their acceptance into the 2019 EIU Honor Band at Eastern Illinois University. The event will feature three concert bands directed by Dr. Alicia Neal, Prof. David Boggs, & Mrs. Courtney Leach ( IL Music Education Association Dist. 5 President). The schedule for the day is as follows:

Mr. Jones will transport the students to and from Charleston, IL in a school vehicle. The departure time on December 7th is 7:00 am from the rehearsal hall parking lot. The estimated return time is 8:30 pm in Olney.

Students will wear appropriate school clothing for the day. The concert attire will be tuxedos or concert black dresses. See the RCHS Bands handbook for more details on concert attire.

Lunch is provided; however, students will need dinner money for the 4:00-5:30 meal break. RCHS students will eat together, unless a parent(s) or guardian(s) would like to take their child out for dinner.

Students may travel home with their family after the concert after both the guardian/parent and student sign-out with Mr. Jones.

Congratulations on your selection!

The RCHS Graduation Ceremony is scheduled for the third Sunday in May from 3-5 pm in the auditorium. The call-time for graduation is 2 pm in the rehearsal hall.  This performance features the Honors Wind Ensemble and the Symphonic Band. The attire for the venue is concert black-and-whites (dresses and tuxedos). All students, except for seniors, are expected to attend.

The RCHS Bands are featured in the upcoming concert at Richland County High School. The concerts feature the Symphonic Band and the Honors Wind Ensemble. The call-time for students is 2 PM. The concert begins at 3 PM.

Concert attire is one of the following:

• tuxedo
• Black dress shoes (males and females)
• Black socks
• black concert dress (school owned)
• alternate attire for females: black dress slacks, black dress blouse and black shoes (black jeans do not count, sorry)

Remember to set your clock forward one hour that day. The concert is free to the public. We hope to see you all there!

UPDATE TO THE HOMECOMING SCHEDULE. FOR THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULE, PLEASE VISIT https://www.rchsbands.net/announcements--itineraries/2019-football-games-schedule-details

As you all know, it has rained, and will continue to rain, all day today. Fortunately, it looks like we will have a break from the rain during the game.

That being said, forecasting the weather is not an exact science. I would encourage you to layer clothes under your uniform. You can not wear a jacket under your marching band jacket, but you can swear sweaters, sweat shirts without hoods, etc. Here is the plan in the event of inclement weather: 

1) No props or plooms. Since it is Homecoming, we will also not wear the shakos. Sousaphones may wear the ball caps, provided it is given time to dry out before tomorrow.

2) Sprinkles (light rain) - the band stays outside. Alumni are welcome to stay with the band or take a break in the rehearsal hall. 

3) Rain - the band will go inside and waits out the storm. 

4) Persistent rain - I will send the band home if it is clear the storm will not let up by 3rd period. 

5) The band will stay until the end of the game to support the team, unless Mr. Jones dismisses the band because of bullet #4. Remember, we are there to support our team!

6) Muddy field (more than just a few spots) - the band will park-and-play the half time show. I can not yet guarantee that we will march the show. If you have friends and family that are attending tonight's performance, Tuesday may be a better time to watch the band. The weather looks pleasant and dry that day! Tuesday is the last day the 2019 show will be performed.

7) The sound system will be used. We will protect the equipment from the elements using tents.

8) Game postponed to Saturday - the band has a competition Saturday in Lebanon, IL. We will not be able to participate on a Saturday game. However, I will postpone the band alumni game until October 25th. 

I postponed the call time for alumni to 6:30 PM tonight. Alumni should report to the rehearsal hall (room 137). Should the forecast shift, and it is apparent that we should expect rain for the majority of the game, I will notify alumni at 6 PM.

Hopefully the weather will cooperate! I hope to see you all soon.

The ILMEA District 5 holds auditions for 2019-2020 District 5 ensembles on Monday, November 14th, 2019 at Effingham High School.  Only select senior high school band members are participating. The departure time is 6:30 AM behind the rehearsal hall, (RCHS exit 21). The return time for the bus is estimated to be around 4 PM. High school students may travel back on the RCMS bus. That bus will does not stop for lunch, and will return to the middle school before 1 pm.

Students are encouraged to bring a cell phone so that they may call a parent upon returning to the school. Students are also encouraged to bring money or a sack lunch, as the bus will stop for lunch before returning back to Olney. To best represent our school and our community, students are expected to wear appropriate dress clothes to the event. Should you have any questions regarding what is appropriate, please contact Mr. Jones or Mr. Weitkamp.

If you are permitting your student to attend the field trip, please sign the form and return as soon as possible.  

Please feel free to call or email me should you have any questions. My contact information is in the header.

The Final Performance is held in the RCHS stadium at 7 pm on 10/15. The performance is open to the public at no cost. The call-time for Marching Tigers winds & percussion is 6 pm. The call-time for color guard to put on makeup as a group is 5:30 pm.

We hope to see you there!

Good afternoon, RCHS Bands friends, family, and students.

On Monday, May 27th, a bugler and a quintet are performing at the Noble Memorial Day Ceremony. The Symphonic Band, the Honors Wind Ensemble, & the Color Guard 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). Drum majors Ethan Steber & Natalie Doan are directing. In the event of rain, the ceremony shall be held in the VFW hall.

The uniform is department shirts & shorts, black socks, and Drillmasters. 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: Warm-up & run through music
9:05 AM: Bugler & saxophone quintet leaves for Noble Cemetery in a school van
9:30 AM: Bugler & saxophone quintet arrive at the cemetery in East Noble.
10:00 AM: Noble Ceremony (bugler & saxophone quintet only)
IMMEDIATELY AFTER GOD BLESS AMERICA: Return to Olney and join the band at the Olney VFW.

9:30 AM: Call-time at RCHS (all but bugler & saxophone quintet)
10:15 AM: Load bus and depart for Olney VFW followed by Haven Hill Cemetery
10:30 AM: Parade line-up at the Olney VFW
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
Army
Navy
Marines
Coast Guard
Air Force
Merchant Marines

Please bring water with you to this event. I encourage students to bring a water cooler. 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 is around 45 students during the 4th term. We want to support the cities of Olney & Noble (and our veterans) that support us. 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.