Led by band director Christopher Render, The Marching Knights (MK) is the marching band of Richwoods High School. The band performs at most home football or basketball games, pep assemblies, and state team send-offs. Whatever the occasion, the MK will be there to bring school spirit and get people excited.
Their season started back in June, when they had what Mr. Render refers to as a “mini boot-camp.” This is the short period where members, especially freshmen or other first-year members, come to learn the initial marching fundamentals and one to two pieces of short music that they will play throughout the season at events like parades or halftime shows. This “mini bootcamp” also helped the Knights prepare for their first public performance, where they were a part of the Ernestine Jackson Juneteenth Freedom Parade in downtown Peoria.
In July, the real band camp took place. The full band was in attendance. Here, they began learning both the music and drill (movements) for their halftime show. This was an intensive, 5-day long, 9 to 5 program with an aim to sharpen the skills of the performers, develop their bonding, and work to push further and further towards the perfect show.
The 2025 program is entitled “Apollo 13: Earth From Space”. The story of the original Apollo 13 mission revolved around three astronauts on the Apollo 13 mission. The goal was to get to the moon, but they never quite got there. Two days into the mission, one of the oxygen tanks exploded, resulting in an entirely new route (and also resulting in the iconic “Houston, we have a problem” line!). Using the gravity of the moon, they swung around it and slingshot themselves back to Earth.
The halftime show this year presents this story in a musical format, using selections from the Apollo 13 film, composed by James Horner. Some selections from Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” suites are also performed.
After band camp, the MK had several more performances. Several home football games, competitions, and parades. This year, a major milestone was made at the Washington Marching Panther Invitational. The MK won first place for the first time at this competition, and they don’t plan on stopping anytime soon! The MK plans on going to three more competitions, and they plan on winning every single one.
Yet the Richwoods Marching Knights strives for something beyond winning competitions. Christopher Render, Drum Major Connor Eldridge, and the rest of the leadership team promote one virtue above all else: “The Standard of Excellence” that Richwoods is known for.
The members obviously want to win, but at the end of the day, it’s all about being the best performers that they can be on the field and fostering a sense of community for all the members. Mr. Render always believes that band and music are for everybody who wants to take part in it. Therefore, he will ensure that everybody has a place in the MK.
Come see our Marching Knights at Richwoods High School football games, basketball games, and pep rallies. Maybe even come to a competition. Have your spirits lifted by the sound of the beautiful music rendered by Mr. Render and our Marching Knights!
