(OLNEY) Richland County High School students delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 Illinois High School Association Solo & Ensemble Contest held this past Saturday, hosted for the first time by RCHS in Olney with sixteen regional schools participating. Richland County earned a total of 18 Superior Ratings (Division 1), the highest possible rating, with ten coming from band events and eight from choir performances. RCHS students also earned five Excellent Ratings (Division II), including four from band & one from choir. One RCHS band performance received a Good Rating (Division III). Richland County also received two “Best in Day Awards” which are prestigious recognitions given to the best performances heard in a judge’s room during the entire day of the contest. The “Best in Day Award” was earned by Lila Balding, Ethan Mehl, and Jordi Mendoza, while the second “Best in Day Award” went to Emma Meadows and Emma Gilreath. Congratulations to all the RCHS band and choir members on a job well done.
