On Monday, May 25th, 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.

PLEASE NOTE: Individual performance times, and the student-worker schedule will post at a later date. Please check back the week before the concert. 

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 12th, 2026. 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 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.

The Olney, IL Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday, November 29th at 6:30 PM. The schedule for the combined Symphonic Band, and the Honors Wind Ensemble:

5:15 PM.............Meet at RCHS in department clothing (dress warm) & load
5:50 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
6:30 PM.............Parade step-off
7:40-7:50 PM....Estimated return to RCHS

I recommend that all students layer up underneath to stay warm. We are in our full uniform, minus the shakoes and plumes. That being said, add holiday related items to the uniform, or at the very least wear lots of green and red!

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.