RCHS Bands (a combination of the Symphonic Band, Honors Wind Ensemble, and Color Guard) will march in the Olney Halloween Parade, followed by the Fright Night performance on Friday, October 31, 2025, at Bowers Park.
Seventh and eighth grade students are invited to march with the RCHS Bands for the parade. The attire for the event is Halloween spirit, so dress up in your favorite Halloween costume.
While the weather may not be warm on the day of the parade, students are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids to prevent heat-related injuries.
The RCHS Bands are also proud to host the fifth annual Fright Night at Bowers Park (next to PizzaFast) following the Olney Halloween Parade. The band will perform soundtrack favorites such as Avengers, Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Thriller, and more, while movie and music video clips play on the big screen.
Candy will be handed out to spectators and middle school students. The RCHS Bands will perform a selection of Halloween tunes and movie themes, making this a fun and festive evening for children of all ages.

Show-times are 6:45-7:10 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 Concert in Bower Park next to PizzaFast and across from the City Hall (showtime 6:45-7:10 p.m. - only one performance this year)

7:15 PM.........................................Pack & return to RCHS

The Halloween Movie and Cookout for RCHS Bands & friends is from 8:00-10:00 p.m. Attendance is not required for the movie and a cookout.

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.

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)

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, black socks, belt (preferably black), and either Drillmaster shoes or CrossOver 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
Army
Marines
Navy
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!

Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

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

The Honors Wind Chamber Ensemble is enjoying a day in the park at Six Flags St. Louis on Saturday, April 27, 2024!

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 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.

The ensemble will perform The Invincible Eagle, and Havana Nights at the festival.

We perform at Pacific High School located at 425 Indian Warpath Dr, Pacific, MO 63069. Tickets are free to the public.

BAND FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:
6:45 am......................................................Call-time at RCHS (rehearsal hall)
7:00-10:14 am..............................................Travel to Pacific, MO
10:40-10:59 am...........................................Warm-up at Pacific High School
11:00-11:20 am............................................Perform at P.H.S.
11:40-11:59 am..............................................Travel to Six Flags
12:00-6:00 pm..............................................Fun in the park!
6:00 pm......................................................Call-time at the front gates
6:15 pm......................................................Dinner at McDonald's
10:00 pm......................................................Estimated return time to Olney

APPROPRIATE ATTIRE FOR THE WATER PARK:
It does not appear that the water park is open as of this point in the year. However, if that turns out not to be the case, and the park is open, you must wear a swimsuit to visit the water park in Six Flags. We recommend nylon swimsuits with liners. Six Flags does not 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:

• Department Shirt
• Jeans or shorts
  
• Tennis Shoes
• Hoodie or Light Jacket
• Hat (optional)
• Swimwear (optional)
  
• Towel (optional)
  
• 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

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