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. There are some that are unable to attend this year, and have elected to write a research project. Those students attending may be found at the bottom of this post.

The festival is held at Casey-Westfield High School on Thursday, March 9th, 2023. There is no cost associated with the Lincoln Trail Band Festival, aside from food money.

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


The concert is open to the public for $2.00 per person. Students may be signed out immediately after the concert.

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.

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FNdSPTnpnDQseE2N9aHMLPyGW9ZX3TUCVXuQfhjVSv8/edit?usp=sharingThe Honors Wind Ensemble performs at the 2023 ILMEA Large Ensemble Contest on Saturday, March 11th. Performance attire is concert black-and-white (tuxes or dresses) that were issued out to the students at the beginning of the term. Parents may sign out their sons & daughters following the last RCHS performance that morning in the assigned homeroom.

The schedule for the day is as follows:

IHSA Organizational Contest Itinerary
6:00 AM (sorry)..............Call-time at RCHS
6:01-6:29 AM................Load & change into black-and-white concert attire
6:20 AM...............................Buses arrive at the RCHS circle drive
6:30-7:40 AM................Travel to the Doudna Fine Arts Center at EIU
8:00-8:29 AM................Honors Wind Ensemble warm-up
8:30-8:59 AM....................Honors Wind Ensemble performance
9:00-9:30 AM....................Clinic
9:30-11:00 AM...............Pack bus, travel to RCHS, unpack, & dismiss! (est. time)

FESTIVAL ADDRESS: Doudna Fine Arts Center on the campus of Eastern Illinois University is located at 801–849 Hayes Ave, Charleston, IL 61920.


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.