Welcome to the Richland County Performing Arts Center on the campus of Richland County High School. This festival is brought to you by the RCHS Band Program, and the members of the Tri-M Honor Music Society, Chapter 8170.
At this time, we ask that you place your phone on silent mode to prevent any distractions during tonight's performance.
A special thank you to our corporate sponsor, The Music Shoppe, for their financial support to this festival.
CONCERT PROGRAM
Yomambo (2002)........Murray Houllif
Fanfare and Fireworks (2012)........Brian Balmages
Dragonfire (2005).........Paul Lavender
As Eagles Soar (2016)........James Swearingen
Pirates of the Caribbean (2003)....Klaus Badelt, arranged by Michael Sweeney
The Thunderer (2001).........J.P. Sousa, arranged by Michael Story
The Tempest (1995)........Robert W. Smith
GUEST CONDUCTOR
Jena Combs is the Instrumental Music Instructor at Lincoln Trail College, where she directs the jazz, concert, and pep bands, teaches private instrumental lessons, and instructs courses in Music Theory and general music. Prior to her role at LTC, she served as the Director of Musical Activities at Flora High School (2021-2024) and taught at Flora Elementary School (2017-2022) and Selmaville C.C.S.D. #10 (2016-2017). Her career has been dedicated to fostering a love for music in students from K-12 through college in a variety of music classroom settings.
A native of Flora, Illinois, Combs earned both her undergraduate and master’s degrees in Music Education from Eastern Illinois University. Committed to inclusivity and excellence in music education, she has been recognized with several honors, including the Illinois State Board of Education’s Meritorious Service Award for Early Career Education (2021) and the Yamaha “40 Under 40” Distinguished Educator Award (2024). In 2024, her high school concert band was honored with performing a concert at the Illinois Music Education Conference. Additionally, under her leadership, Flora Elementary and Flora High School received the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation’s “Best Communities for Music Education” award in 2019, 2023, and 2024.
2025 Embarras River Festival Band
FLUTES
Belle Graves .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
Chesney Schuetz .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
Aubrey Weaver .......... Cumberland Middle School
Audrey Edwards .......... Cumberland Middle School
Kaya Sumner .......... Cumberland Middle School
Kayla Griguhn .......... Marshall Junior High School
Kylah Matthews .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
Vanessa Hellman .......... Cumberland Middle School
Aurora Cullison .......... Albion Grade School
Bella Treat .......... Red Hill Junior High School
Bentley Wilson .......... Richland County Middle School
Iyla Spillman .......... Richland County Middle School
Kinley Pflaum .......... Richland County Middle School
Makenzie Patchett .......... Casey-Westfield Junior High School
Paysli Kinkelaar .......... Casey-Westfield Junior High School
OBOES
Daisy Greathouse .......... West Salem Grade School
Hadleigh Gifford .......... Albion Grade School
CLARINETS
Ella Staley .......... Casey-Westfield Junior High School
Kayden Gembe .......... Marshall Junior High School
Lily Curtis .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
Paige Wolke .......... Cumberland Middle School
Rachael Teets .......... Cumberland Middle School
Shelby Nichols .......... Cumberland Middle School
Alexia Crist .......... Red Hill Junior High School
Anna Kemper .......... Cumberland Middle School
Aria Ogle .......... Marshall Junior High School
Emmalynn Hannel .......... Richland County Middle School
Jalayna Kearns .......... Cumberland Middle School
Jaylynn Schultz .......... Red Hill Junior High School
Lillian McKlin .......... Casey-Westfield Junior High School
Marley Ralston .......... Richland County Middle School
Olivia Henderson .......... Casey-Westfield Junior High School
Rylee Higginbotham .......... Richland County Middle School
Sage Burton .......... Cumberland Middle School
BASS CLARINET
Quinn Trout .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
ALTO SAXOPHONES
Arielle Stroughmatt .......... Albion Grade School
Adam Wolke .......... Cumberland Middle School
Addi Harris .......... Casey-Westfield Junior High School
Annlee Gendren .......... Casey-Westfield Junior High School
Emma Probst .......... Cumberland Middle School
Raegann Finn .......... Cumberland Middle School
Tucker Barnes .......... Richland County Middle School
Abbigail Young .......... Albion Grade School
Bricyn Cassagne .......... Marshall Junior High School
Brooklyn Ferguson .......... Richland County Middle School
Kayce Everingham .......... Richland County Middle School
Parker Newkirk .......... Richland County Middle School
Rocco Giannavola .......... Marshall Junior High School
Vaedyn Roberts .......... Casey-Westfield Junior High School
TENOR SAXOPHONES
Autumn Shelby .......... West Salem Grade School
Camden Blank .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
Drake Geuin .......... Cumberland Middle School
Cullen Garrard .......... Richland County Middle School
Isabelle Carlen .......... Cumberland Middle School
Jackson Hayes .......... Casey-Westfield Junior High School
BARITONE SAXOPHONES
David Wilson .......... West Salem Grade School
Ethan Ozier .......... Cumberland Middle School
TRUMPETS/CORNETS
Ella Fitch .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
Kolton McClaren .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
Lydia Seiler .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
Nate Greathouse .......... Albion Grade School
Brilyn Brinkley .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
Chase Burns .......... Cumberland Middle School
Grady Fain .......... Casey-Westfield Junior High School
Kaidence Roark .......... Richland County Middle School
Lawsen Crouch .......... Marshall Junior High School
Nick Verdeyen .......... Cumberland Middle School
Adele Waxler .......... Richland County Middle School
Andrew Lambird .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
Charlotte Flessner .......... Cumberland Middle School
Conner Perkins .......... Albion Grade School
Eli Hart .......... Albion Grade School
Emilia Hollingsworth .......... Marshall Junior High School
Emmy Redman .......... Casey-Westfield Junior High School
Grant York .......... Albion Grade School
Trevin Shidler .......... Red Hill Junior High School
Zane Miller .......... Casey-Westfield Junior High School
HORN IN F
Oliver Gawthorp .......... Albion Grade School
Piper Moore .......... Red Hill Junior High School
Coleen Moutry .......... Red Hill Junior High School
TENOR TROMBONES
Carlie VanBlaricum .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
Daniel Scherer .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
Brooklyn Edwards .......... Cumberland Middle School
Emma Carwile .......... West Salem Grade School
Ezra Venatta ......... Cumberland Middle School
Griffin Medsker .......... Marshall Junior High School
Gwen Chenault .......... Richland County Middle School
Kate Ochs .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
Klaya Caughran .......... Red Hill Junior High School
Kylar VanMatre .......... Albion Grade School
Landon Greathouse .......... Albion Grade School
Lincoln McDaniel .......... Albion Grade School
Miles Lycan .......... Marshall Junior High School
Owen Wallace .......... Cumberland Middle School
BARITONES/EUPHONIUM
David Brinkmann .......... Albion Grade School
Don Seiler .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
Gus Kocher .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
Gabriel Andrews .......... Albion Grade School
Luke Slagley .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
Elijah Marshall .......... Richland County Middle School
Jacob Rudolph .......... West Salem Grade School
Lillian McDowell .......... Richland County Middle School
Ruby Baker .......... Richland County Middle School
Maverick Duvall .......... Cumberland Middle School
TUBA
Jaxson Gill .......... West Salem Grade School
BASS GUITARS
Chloe Fulton .......... Marshall Junior High School
Kale Morgan .......... Casey-Westfield Junior High School
PERCUSSION
Audrey Schade .......... Cumberland Middle School
Grayson Shick .......... Red Hill Junior High School
Justin Souden .......... Richland County Middle School
Katie Martin .......... Cumberland Middle School
Kyler Houchin .......... Richland County Middle School
Lucca Trupiano .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
Mickey Bell .......... West Salem Grade School
Milley Simmons .......... Casey-Westfield Junior High School
Rilee VanMatre .......... Cumberland Middle School
Audrey Strader .......... Cumberland Middle School
Blake Reeder .......... Cumberland Middle School
Corbin Easton .......... Casey-Westfield Junior High School
Ellee Bare .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
Ethan White .......... Richland County Middle School
Hendrix Dunn .......... Cumberland Middle School
Ryden Cleveland .......... Richland County Middle School
Stella Powers .......... Richland County Middle School
Conor Buchner .......... St. Joseph Catholic School
SNAPSHOTS OF THE DAY
A big thank you to the Richland County High School Tri-M Honor Music Society, Chapter 8170 for their efforts in making this festival happen!
Tri-M Music Honor Society, formerly known as Modern Music Masters, is an American high school and middle school music honor society. A program of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), it is designed to recognize students for their academic and musical achievements and to provide leadership and service opportunities to young musicians.
The 2024-2025 Richland County High School Chapter 8170 Tri-M Music Honor Society members are:
First row (left-to-right): Maddison Syers, Sophie Combs, Alaina Parker, Hadley Heath, Evey Mason, Jackson Williams, & Alex Schneider
Second row (left-to-right): Mr. Weitkamp, Jereme Higginbotham, Callista Ridgely, Molly Fehrenbacher, Addison Ridgely, River Logan, Lila Balding, Ethan Zuber, and Mr. Jones
Not in picture: Conner Akers
For more information pertaining to Tri-M Music Honor Society, visit https://www.rchsbands.net/tri-m-chapter-8170.html.