Ladies and gentlemen, it is that time of the year! Please take a moment to review the upcoming schedule (including football games!) by clicking the 2025-2026 CALENDAR tab on this website. Unless otherwise specified, here are the details and schedule for the 2025 RCHS home football games:

Uniform: Full battle-rattle! This includes the department shirt, shorts, Drillmaster or CrossOver shoes, black-crew socks, bibbers (pants), marching band jackets, shakos (hats), plums, gloves, and guard uniforms.

Equipment: Your instrument, flip folder, lyre, & music

5:15 pm.……….………….Call-time for all RCHS Marching Tigers members & change into uniform.

5:45 pm……………………Rehearse in the rehearsal hall (RCHS room 153)

6:20 pm........................Drumline joins the football team for warmup at the stadium

6:20 pm…………………..Set parade block and march to the stadium.

6:50 pm……………………Pre-game (Star-Spangled Banner, School Song, followed by the tunnel)

7:00 pm……………………Game begins (stand-tunes & half-time show. 3rd quarter off for concessions)

Half-time Performance:

• Perform the half-time/competition show.

9:20 pm……………………Estimated end to the football game

Please feel free to bring money for concessions. The band takes a break over the 3rd quarter.

Please contact me at [email protected], Remind101, or (618) 393-2191 ext. 3153 should you have any questions.

2025 RCHS Graduation Ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, May 25th from 3-5 pm in the Ron Herrin Gym. 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-white (tuxedos and concert dresses). All students, except for seniors, are expected to attend.

The Honors Wind Chamber Ensemble and the Symphonic Band are enjoying a day in the park at Six Flags St. Louis on Saturday, May 17, 2025!

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

The cost for students to participate is nothing! The RCHS Bands program is picking up the bill this year as a reward for all that went into this academic year. Meals are not provided. Students should bring either debit, credit, gift card, or sack meals for lunch and dinner. Cash is not accepted at the park.

The ensemble will perform Mt. Wrightson March, and Vanishing Point at the festival.

We perform at Northwest High School located at 6005 Cedar Hill Rd.
Cedar Hill, MO 63016. Tickets are free to the public.

BAND FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:
6:45 am......................................................Call-time at RCHS (rehearsal hall)
7:00-10:20 am..............................................Travel to Pacific, MO
11:45 am -12:00 pm.....................................Warm-up at Pacific High School
12:10-12:30 pm............................................Perform at NWHS
12:45-1:30 pm..............................................Travel to Six Flags
1:30-7:59 pm..............................................Fun in the park!
8:00 pm......................................................Call-time at the front gates
11:30 pm......................................................Estimated return time to Olney


PACKING LIST:

• Department Shirt
• Jeans or shorts
• Tennis Shoes
• Hoodie or Light Jacket
• Hat (optional)
• Sun Screen (optional)
• 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

Please feel free to call or email me should you have any questions at [email protected] or by calling (618) 393-2191 ext. 3153.

The RCHS Honors Wind Chamber Ensemble performs at the IHSA Organizational Music Contest on Saturday, April 12th. Performance attire is concert black-and-white (tuxes or dresses) that were issued out to the students at the beginning of the second term. Parents may sign out their sons & daughters following the performance that morning in the assigned homeroom.

Food and drinks are available in the cafeteria. Students may purchase food and drinks after performances.

The schedule for the day is as follows:

IHSA Organizational Contest Itinerary
7:45 AM.........................Call-time at RCHS
7:48-8:14 AM................Change into black-and-white concert attire
8:10 AM...............................Buses arrive at the RCHS circle drive
8:15-9:59 AM................Travel to Mt. Vernon High School
10:00-10:19 AM.................Check into home room and restroom break
10:20-10:24 AM.................Move to the warm-up area
10:25-10:54 PM............Honors Wind Chamber Ensemble warm-up
10:55-10:59 PM............Move to the performance venue
11:00-11:25 PM....................Honors Wind Chamber Ensemble performance
11:45-1:15 PM................Pack bus, travel to RCHS, unpack, and dismiss! (est. time)

CONTEST ADDRESS: Mt. Vernon High School is located at 11101 N. Wells Bypass in Mt. Vernon, IL 62864

Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions at [email protected], or 618-393-2191 ext. 3157.

ARRIVAL
Visiting schools, please plan to arrive no earlier than 2:15 pm on Friday and 8:00 am Saturday. The contest officially begins at 3:00pm Friday and 8:00 am Saturday. Keep in mind, this date is the start of MVTHS spring break, so you might encounter Friday traffic if you are a 3-4pm performer. All buses and vehicles should park in the back parking lot. Everyone (including bus drop off) should enter through the cafeteria entrance (Doors 50 and 51) by the ram statue. The front Fine Arts lot and entrance is for judges and workers only. There will be several signs posted outside to help with traffic. Please follow them! Schedules will be posted inside the main contest entrance (Door 3 and 4)
along with an information table with maps and workers to help with any questions.

FOOD SERVICE
The MVTHS Music Boosters will be operating food service/concessions in the
cafeteria. There will be a small variety of food, drinks, and snacks available including bottled water, sodas, various candy bars, cookies, and sour punch straw type candy. There will be breakfast foods as well for the morning arrivals. Students should eat and drink the items they purchase in the cafeteria. Food and Soda/Juice are not allowed into the performance theater, hallways, or classrooms.

PERCUSSION EQUIPMENT
The following list of percussion instruments will be available for use. If you need any other large percussion instruments, please let us know and we will do our best to make them available to you:

● Pearl concert snare drum (we also have two drum set snares)
● Pearl concert bass drum
● Tama drum set with 5 toms (This has our only hi-hat, so if you need hi-hat in addition to drum set, let us know)
● Concert toms of various sizes (let us know if you need specific sizes for your
performance)
● Ludwig timpani 32”, 29”, 26”, 23” (heads replaced this year and all have tuning gauges -
I will make sure the heads have been cleared before Friday)
● Glockenspiel
● Crash, ride, suspended, and china cymbals
● Assorted auxiliary instruments (if you have specific needs, please let us know and we
will let you know if it is available; if it is not, we will do our best to have it for you if you
cannot bring it yourself) - we only have one trap table, please plan to bring your own
if you need another one, or bring a towel to put on a stand as a substitute
○ Including, but not limited to: triangle, wind chimes, tambourine, cowbells, cabasa,
ratchet, castanets, bongos, slapstick, vibraslap, flexatone, maracas
○ If you need congas, please let us know, as we do not have them on campus, but
we can get them for your use

● Adams 1.5 octave chimes (brand new - 2 mallets available)
● Musser 1.6 octave chimes (not great, but if you really need that high F# or G it’s here)
● Tam-tam (on the smaller side, but decent)
● Premier 3.5 octave vibraphone (we are working on getting a band for the motor)
● Jenco 3 octave vibraphone (pretty rough shape - pedal doesn’t work well and no motor
available; use only if a second vibraphone is absolutely necessary)

● Adams 4.3 octave marimba (adjustable height - this will be the default if only one is
needed)
● Musser 4.3 octave marimba (height not adjustable, but instrument is good)
● Adams 3.5 octave xylophone (adjustable height - this will be the default if only one is
needed)
● Musser 3.5 octave xylophone (height not adjustable)

Consider a donation to an aspiring high school musician! The Richland County High School Band Program The James T. Cummins Band Scholarship is presented to a graduating senior within the RCHS Band Program. This student must exhibit exceptional ability in music, good moral character, and he or she must intend to continue his or her involvement in a band program after high school. The senior is not required to pursue a music career to be eligible for this scholarship. 

Individuals may donate by check to RCHS BANDS. They may also donate online through TrevTrak using a debit card or credit card. RevTrak (https://ercu1.revtrak.net/) is an online payment portal that is utilized by the Richland County Community School District. Please note that there is a 4.45% Software Admin Fee applied by RevTrak for each transaction.
FILLING OUT REVTRAK: When filling out RevTrak, select the following:

1. MARCHING BAND ICON - This payment system may be used by anyone, not just those enrolled in the RCHS Marching Tigers. This includes donations. 
2. This will take you to the RCHS MUSIC DEPT PAYMENTS AND DONATIONS page. Fill out the form, including the STUDENT NAME (LAST, FIRST) OR MUSIC DEPT. DONATION. This tells us where the money should be applied and for what reason. Please type RCHS BANDS: JAMES T. CUMMINS SCHOLARSHIP. Once done, click the ADD TO CART button.
3. You will then see your cart with your sub total. Click the CHECKOUT button.
4. To complete the billing process, enter your debit or credit card information into the payment method, click the "I'm not a robot" box, and submit!

Thanks so much for your time! Please let me know should you have any questions. - Mr. Jones

Audition practice March 6th (3:00-4:30 p.m.)
Auditions March 13th (3:00-4:30 p.m.)

Practice Date (3:00-5:00 p.m.):
March 20th
March 27th
April 3rd
April 10th
April 17th

Possible performance on April 19th

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2024 SOLO & ENSEMBLE RESULTS

The IHSA Solo & Ensemble Contest is nearly upon us! The IHSA Solo & Ensemble Contest is scheduled for Saturday, March 8th, 2025 at Lawrenceville High School.

The day's itinerary is as follows:

8:15 AM - Meet in the RCHS Rehearsal Hall
8:30 AM - Depart for Lawrenceville, IL
9:10 AM - Estimated arrival at Lawrenceville High School
2:00 PM - Estimated departure from Lawrenceville for Olney
2:30 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. Students are encouraged to bring money, as the Lawrenceville Band Boosters is selling food and drinks.

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. The due date for fees is March 1st. Band students, please visit https://gocuttime.com/ for and log in for balance and invoices.

9:20 AM - Addison Ridgely (113 Bb Soprano Saxophone) - Performance Room: 306 - Accompanied by Joyce Fritschle - 1 student(s)

9:40 AM - Schneider, et al (620 Random Instrumentation) - Performance Room: 406 - Unaccompanied - 2 student(s)

10:20 AM - Zuber, et al (652 Bass Ensemble) - Performance Room: 404 - Unaccompanied - 4 student(s)

10:30 AM - Tracy, et al (601 Flute Ensemble) - Performance Room: 304 - Unaccompanied - 2 student(s)

10:30 AM - Schneider, et al (611 Tuba/Baritone/Euphonium Ensemble) - Performance Room: 402 - Unaccompanied - 2 student(s)

11:10 AM - Longbons, et al (608 Trumpet Ensemble) - Performance Room: 402 - Unaccompanied - 2 student(s)

11:20 AM - Ryden, et al (615 Mixed Percussion Ensemble) - Performance Room: 117 - Unaccompanied - 3 student(s)

1:10 PM - Callista Ridgely (114 Eb Alto Saxophone) - Performance Room: 306 - Unaccompanied - 1 student(s)

1:20 PM - Mehl, et al (612 Mixed Brass Ensemble) - Performance Room: 406 - Unaccompanied - 2 student(s)

1:20 PM - Heath, et al (602 Clarinet Ensemble) - Performance Room: 306 - Unaccompanied - 2 student(s)

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.

The festival is held at Casey-Westfield High School on Thursday, March 13th, 2025. There is no cost associated with the Lincoln Trail Band Festival, aside from food money ($20). Students may elect to bring a sack lunch/dinner instead.

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

Dinner: Casey’s Pizza, Soft Drinks

A note from Mr. Ritter, Director of Bands at Casey-Westfield High School:

1. Bring music stands and music
2. Percussionist need to bring sticks and mallets
3. Students should bring pencils
4. Buses should park across the street (North) of the baseball field.  You will need transportation to Richard’s Farm for Lunch
5. FOR LUNCH:  everyone who has paid to eat will be given a lunch ticket.  Everyone will need to take their tickets into Richard’s and sit down.  The servers will pick up your tickets and then direct you to the food line.  
6. Drummers should bring the marching percussion instrument to the event.  We will have a marching drumline performance at the concert as well.  Drummers will rehearse in the band room throughout the course of the day.  We would like for as many drummers as possible to participate in the drum line performance.  Drummers should bring carriers and/or stands for their marching percussion instruments. 
7. Bring payment for lunch and supper  ($20.00/person including directors and bus drivers)

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

Please feel free to contact me should there be any further questions at [email protected] or at (618) 393-2191 ext. 3153.

Click HERE for bus and van seat assignment. Students must sign into their rccu1.net account for access to this document. Click on the tabs to navigate between the roster, the bus seating chart, and the van seating chart.