There have been a couple of updates pertaining to the Basketball Band schedule for the 2023 season:

1) The game originally schedule for Thursday, February 9th has been moved to Wednesday, February 8th. This impacts those within the Orange Basketball Band.

2) The Honors Wind Ensemble has been selected to perform at the IHSA Boys Basketball State Finals on Friday, March 10th, 2023 on the campus of the University of Illinois. In addition to the members of the Honors Wind Ensemble, select students from the Symphonic Band will be invited to perform as a way to fill out sections. More details coming within the next week or two.

The 2023 LIC Basketball Band is scheduled for Saturday, January 21st at Richland County High School. Currently, we have 96 student-musicians between the two basketball bands. Should students in one band also wish to play with the other band, they are more than welcome! However, I must stress that the student or students must still perform at both of their assigned games. 

Percussionists, please bring their own sticks. We have three drum set players per band (six total). These students will take turns performing over the course of the two games at which they are assigned to play.

The remaining percussionists may play mallets or auxiliary percussion, whichever they prefer. In fact, when not playing, drum set players are also welcome to play a mallet instrument or auxiliary percussion. Drum sets are provided. 

Mr. Ritter from Casey-Westfield High School will provide folders for students the day of the event (A BIG THANK you to Mr. Ritter!). One quick note. Students need to leave the music at RCHS for directors to collect. There will be two students per music stand/music. Each of the folders has pep music as well as the school songs for each school. Music stands are provided by RCHS. 

The date of the tournament is Saturday, January 21st. The event is held at Richland County High School.  The address is 1200 E. Laurel St. Olney, IL. Rehearsal begins at 11:00 a.m. Please arrive at 10:30 or 10:40 a.m. RCHS students, please arrive at 10 a.m.

Rehearsal will last 90-minutes or less. We perform before the 1st game and during half-times and between games, alternating bands. We will have pizza between 4:00 and 4:30 p.m.

Buses and RCHS students should park in the parking lot North of the high school (between the stadium and the high school..  Students may be dropped off at the circle drive. The band room is located on the circle drive.  If you have any additional questions regarding the LIC pep band, feel free to contact me. 

Please see the schedule below:

Rehearsal:  
Basketball Band #1 (band room)
Directors: Mr. Jones, Mrs. Setzer, Mr. Ritter, & Dr. Pruiett

Basketball Band #2 (theater)
Directors: Mrs. Tohill, Mr. Brickner, & Mr. Ridlen

Storage for Cases (Choir Room)

Directors’ Room (Green Room between the band room and the theater - no students)

Performances at Games:         
Each band will perform before and at half-time of two games.

Game 1 (Richland County vs. Marshall at 1:00):  Basketball Band #1 (directed by Mr. Jones & Mrs. Setzer)

Game 2 (Lawrenceville vs. Robinson at 2:30):  Basketball Band #2 (directed by Mrs. Tohill & Mr. Brickner)

Game 3 (Casey-Westfield vs. Paris at 4:00):  Basketball Band #1 (directed by Mr. Ritter & Dr. Pruiett) 

Game 4 (Newton vs. Mt. Carmel at 5:30):  Basketball Band #2 (directed by Mr. Ridlen & ?)

CONCESSIONS MENU:

        Popcorn………………..……….$1
        Water………………….…….….$1
        Soda………………….…….…..$2
        Hot dog……………….…….….$2
        Chips & Cheese…………....…$2
        Candy……….…….……….…..$2
        Slice of Pizza……………….…$2
        Nachos with Taco Meat……...$5

Four students from Richland County High School shall participate in the 2023 Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) All-State All-State Ensembles. ILMEA will host the event on January 26-28, 2023 in Peoria.

These students were selected from a rigorous audition process as the top student-musicians representing over 12,000 schools throughout Illinois. Of roughly 2,400 students that auditioned, only a fraction of students were selected to participate in the event. The four RCHS students selected to participate were Kyle Rennier (senior/jazz band), Victoria Zwilling (orchestra/band), Evan Irvin (senior/jazz band), & Emma Wells (junior/band).

The Olney, IL Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday, November 26th at 6:30 PM. The schedule for the combined Symphonic Band, Honors Wind Ensemble, and Color Guard 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.

2019 Richland County High School alumnus Ethan Steber performs his senior recital at Eastern Illinois University on Sunday, November 6th, 2022. Ethan will graduate EIU with a bachelors degree in music education, with teacher certification in December of 2023.

Good morning, RCHS Bands friends, family, and students. My name is Christopher Jones, director of bands at RCHS inviting you to join us at the Olney Veterans Day Ceremony. Come join the Symphonic Band & Honors Wind Ensemble as we honor those that have served with a parade down Main St. at 10:40am, followed by a brief ceremony at the Veterans Monument outside the Richland County Court House at 11am. The call-time for students at the high school is 9:30am.

I also have a quick correction regarding the upcoming Olney Music Boosters meeting this week. The meeting is not this Tuesday. It is tonight at 6pm in the RCHS music commons off of the band room. I apologize for the confusion.

You may find more details under the Announcements/Itinerary section of www.rchsbands.net. Please feel free to contact me at cjones@rccu1.net or by phone at (618) 393-2191 ext. 3153 should you have any questions. Enjoy the rest of your day!

Ladies & gentlemen, the Oblong Spooktacular Parade is right around the corner! This is your chance to dress up as a zombie. The parade is hosted in Oblong, IL on Saturday, October 29th, 2022.

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 exit 21
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.

Congratulations to the following students for earning a spot within the 2022 ILMEA District 5 Band, Jazz Band, & Orchestra Ensembles. The ILMEA District 5 Music Festival takes place at Eastern Illinois University.

Representing RCHS on Saturday, November 19th in the District 5 Senior Concert Band are Aidan Gomez (trombone), Ari Henby (flute), Carly Houchin, (flute), Jozalyn Houser (clarinet), Evan Irvin (tenor saxophone), Kyle Rennier (alto saxophone), and Emma Wells (clarinet.

Representing RCHS on Saturday, November 19th in the District 5 Senior Orchestra is Victoria Zwilling (oboe).

Representing RCHS on Saturday, November 12th in the District 5 Senior Jazz Band I are Wyatt Baker (trumpet), Aidan Gomez (trombone), Kyle Rennier (alto saxophone), and Ethan Zuber (trombone).

Finally, representing RCHS on Saturday, November 12th in the District 5 Senior Jazz Band II are Evan Irvin (bass), and Ryan Zhu (tenor saxophone).

Congratulations to each of you for this accomplishment!

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


SCRIPT FOR THE CEREMONY AT THE COURTHOUSE:

1. Preceremony Music (Hosts of Freedom)
2. Opening Remarks
3. Invocation
4. Introduction of VFW Commander
5. Empty Chair
6. Star Spangled Banner
7. Guest Speaker
8. Branch of Service Songs (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines)
9. 21-Gun Salute & TAPS
10. God Bless America
11. Benediction
12. Closing Remarks