UPDATED 4/28/22

The combined Honors Wind Ensemble & the Symphonic Band (4th term) are enjoying a day in the park at Six Flags St. Louis on Saturday, April 30th.

Trip attire is the orange RCHS department shirt ($10), jeans, and tennis shoes for the day at the park. Students need not purchase a new department shirt should they already have a shirt. The performance attire includes tuxedos and concert dresses (or black, dress blouse, black dress slacks, and dress shoes).

The cost for students to participate is nothing! The RCHS Bands program is picking up the bill this year as a reward for enduring the pandemic and all that went along with it. Meals are not provided. Students should bring either money or sack meals for lunch and dinner.

BAND FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:
6:45 am........................................................Call-time at RCHS
6:50-7:15 am...............................................Change into concert attire & load
7:30-10:44 am.............................................Depart for St. Charles High School
10:45 am......................................................Arrive at St. Charles High School
11:20 am.......................................................Warm-Up & Tune
10:01-11:20 am............................................Prepare for performance
11:45 am.......................................................Performance
12:15 pm.....................................................Depart for Six Flags
1:30-6:00 pm...............................................Fun in the park!
6:00 pm........................................................Call-time (fountain by front gates)
6:15 pm........................................................Dinner at a fast food restaurant
10:00 pm......................................................Estimated return time to Olney

APPROPRIATE ATTIRE FOR THE WATERPARK (...when open):
To participate in the water park activities, you must wear a swimsuit. We recommend nylon swimsuits with liners. We don’t allow guests to enter the water areas wearing thong bathing suits, regular shorts (including khaki and cargo styles), long pants, street clothes, cut-off shorts, or denim. Because they can damage the rides, we also do not allow swimwear with buttons, snaps, rivets or zippers. But, don’t worry—if you don’t have the appropriate clothing, swimsuits can be purchased on site! Here are more guidelines to help you pick out the best attire for your trip to Hurricane Harbor:

• Shoes are not allowed in any attraction.
• Aqua socks/water shoes are not permitted on some slides.
• Swimsuits are only allowed in Hurricane Harbor, and must be appropriate for a family environment.
• Shoes, proper shorts, jean and cover-up attire are all required when returning to the theme park.

PACKING LIST:

• Mask
• Hand sanitizer
• Department Shirt
• Jeans
• Tennis Shoes
• Hoodie or Light Jacket
• Hat (optional)
• Swimwear
• Towel
• Sun Screen
• 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

If you are permitting your student to attend the field trip, please sign the form and return to Mr. Jones by prior to the trip. You may find a copy of the permission slip in the link at the bottom of this post.

Please feel free to call or email me should you have any questions at cjones@rccu1.net or by calling (618) 393-2191 ext. 3153.

The Olney, IL Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday, November 27th at 6:30 PM. The schedule for the combined Symphonic Band, Honors Wind Ensemble, and colorguard 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.

Ladies & gentlemen, the Oblong Spooktacular Parade is right around the corner! This is your chance to dress up in your favorite Halloween garb. The parade is hosted in Oblong, IL on Saturday, October 30th, 2021.

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.

Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus within the continental United States of America, IHSA has cancelled the 2020 Organizational Contest throughout the state on April 18th, 2020.

The IHSA Solo & Ensemble Contest for 2020 is nearly upon us! I have not yet received the performance times and location for each entry for Saturday, March 7th. Once we receive the performance times from IHSA, you may find performance times & locations at the bottom of this email.

The day's itinerary is as follows:

7:30 AM - Meet in the RCHS Rehearsal Hall
7:40 AM - Depart for Lawrenceville, IL
8:15 AM - Estimated arrival at Lawrenceville High School
3:00 PM - Depart Lawrenceville for Olney
3:30 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; however, students may buy lunch from Lawrenceville Band Boosters.

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. If this is the case, payment will show $0 and the fee will be deducted from the account balance automatically. The due date for fees is February 21st. Please visit https://www.cuttime.net for and log in for balance and invoices.

PERFORMANCE TIMES WERE POSTED ON MARCH 2ND AT 10 AM.

On Friday, February 21st, the Honors Wind Ensemble will attend the EIU Midwinter Invitational at the Doudna Fine Arts Center on the EIU Campus. This is an all-day clinic hosted by by the EIU band directors, and applied faculty. Honors Wind will begin the event with a tour of the campus, a one-hour clinic with Dr. Neal & Prof. Boggs, followed by break out session (small groups), and concludes with a concert by the EIU Wind Symphony. RCHS does not perform on the concert.

The attire for the day is comfortable, school appropriate clothes. Students need to bring money or a sack lunch/dinner for both lunch and dinner. Meals are on campus.

Admission is free to the EIU Wind Symphony and Faculty Showcase Concert in the evening for students.

SCHEDULE FOR FEBRUARY 21ST:
9:30am........Meet in the rehearsal hall / buses arrive at RCHS exit 21
9:40am........Depart for Charleston, IL
12:30pm......Arrive at the Doudna Fine Arts Center at Eastern Illinois Univ.
1:00pm........Charleston H.S. & Richland County H.S. Campus Tour
2:00pm........Charleston H.S. & Richland County H.S. Band Clinic
3:00pm........Break Out Sessions** (See below for details.)
4:00pm........Break
4:15pm........Instrument Specific Fundamental Sessions (taught by EIU faculty)
5:15pm........Dinner Break (Charleston restaurant)
7:30pm........EIU Wind Symphony/Faculty Showcase Concert
9:00pm........Depart for Olney
10:15 pm.....Estimated arrival time at RCHS

Congratulations to those that were selected to participate in the LIC Pep Band Conference on Saturday, January 25th, 2020! You may find the roster of participating students listed below, as well as the assignments for the LIC Pep Bands.

The LIC Conference is held at Paris High School this year. Rehearsal begins at 1:00 p.m. The call-time for that day is 10:00 am in the RCHS rehearsal hall. Buses arrive at 10:00 am at RCHS exit 21.  We depart for Paris, IL at 10:10 am. Lunch is at the Paris McDonald's when we pull into town, so please bring money or a sack lunch. We arrive at the host school no later than 12:45 pm. Rehearsals begin at 1 pm.

Band 1 & Band 2 perform before games and during all breaks. Pizza & drinks are provided between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m at no cost to the students. Concessions is also available, for those that wish to bring cash.

Performance attire:

• Jeans
• Tennis shoes with socks
• Department shirt
• Basketball band jersey (unless all have a department shirt)

Required items:

• Instrument
• Valve oil or slide grease
• Extra reeds
• Money for dinner at concessions
• Jacket or coat

Rehearsal locations:
Band 1 (stage)
Band 2 (band room)

Each band will perform before and at half-time of two games:
Band 1 will play the first and 3rd games.
Band 2 will play at the second and fourth games.

Historically, the game times are as follows (take with a grain of salt):
Game 1 = 3pm
Game 2 = 4:30pm
Game 3 = 6pm
Game 4 = 7:30pm

I anticipate a return time to Richland County High School at around 11pm.

PICCOLO
Kali Hinterscher

FLUTE
Arianna Henby
Evelyn Bogard

CLARINETS
Kendra Jellison (1st)
Jozalyn Houser (2nd)
Paige Elder (3rd)

ALTO SAXOPHONE
Jase Rusk (1st)

Kyle Rennier (2nd)

BARI SAXOPHONE
Austin Vaughn

TRUMPET
Adrian Bower (1st)
Madison Hinderliter (2nd or 3rd)

MELLOPHONE
Jacob Pompe 

BARITONE
Mallory Miller
William Fritchey

SOUSAPHONE
Jake Wheeler

PERCUSSION
Rylan Craig (mallets & auxiliary)
Maddi McKinney (mallets & auxiliary)
Harrison Hahn (set & tenor drums)

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!

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.