LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Under the collegiate stadium lights and against an elite field of regional contenders, the Bourbon County High School Marching Band took the turf at the University of Louisville’s L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, delivering a commanding performance at the Bands of America (BOA) Kentucky Regional Championship.
Competing in one of the premier marching arts circuits in the nation, the Marching Colonels went head-to-head with powerhouse ensembles from across Kentucky and surrounding states. While Bourbon County competes in Class 3A within the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) state circuit, Bands of America’s national enrollment formulas placed the Paris ensemble in Class A—a division where Bourbon County has built one of the most storied traditions in marching band history.
A Small-School Giant on the Big Stage
In the Bands of America arena, school enrollment dictates classification, but size has never defined the Marching Colonels’ sound or visual footprint.
Carrying a historic legacy that includes six BOA Grand National Class A Championship titles and nine KMEA State Championships, Bourbon County commanded Cardinal Stadium with the poise and execution of a national-caliber program. Performing on an expansive collegiate field alongside programs from across Classes 2A, 3A, and 4A, the ensemble brought their trademark balance of technical precision, rich musicality, and expressive visual design to the Louisville audience.
Source: Myra Miller
Source: Myra Miller
Source: Myra MillerOn the Field: “For Your Eyes Only”
Under the direction of Band Director Eric Hale and led on the field by Drum Majors Laura Bacon and Kelby Kenimer, the 85-member ensemble delivered a focused, passionate run of their 2026 production, “For Your Eyes Only.”
The performance put Bourbon County’s depth of talent on full display:
- Musical Nuance & Power: Dynamic brass and woodwind passages, seamless dynamic control, and layered, intricate front ensemble and battery percussion scoring.
- Visual Precision: Demanding drill design paired with cohesive visual staging that maximized field coverage inside the massive collegiate stadium.
- Color Guard Artistry: An expressive, sharp color guard performance that elevated the narrative impact and general effect of the production.
Adjudicators evaluated the Marching Colonels across music performance, visual performance, and general effect captions, rewarding the ensemble’s maturity and composure in an intense, high-stakes venue.
Source: Myra Miller
Source: Myra MillerClass A Podium Finish
Following a full slate of daytime preliminary performances, Bourbon County took the field for the afternoon awards ceremony, earning a podium finish and capturing 2nd Place in Class A in a tightly contested bracket:
- 1st Place: Murray High School
- 2nd Place: Bourbon County High School
- 3rd Place: Harrison County High School
While the Marching Colonels narrowly missed the cut for the 12-band evening finals against large-school 3A and 4A programs, their runner-up finish in Class A reaffirms Bourbon County’s status among the nation’s top small-school marching programs.
Eyes on the Prize: The Road to State
Testing their production against national-sheet adjudicators at Bands of America provides the Marching Colonels with indispensable feedback and vital big-venue reps.
With the BOA regional in the books, Bourbon County returns home to Paris with major momentum, turning its full attention toward detailing, polishing, and expanding “For Your Eyes Only” as the high-stakes October stretch and the KMEA State Marching Band Championships draw near.
Next Up: Hosting the Colonel’s Classic
Local supporters will not have to travel far to see high-caliber marching pageantry next weekend. Bourbon County will host the annual Colonel’s Classic next Saturday at Bourbon County High School, welcoming bands, adjudicators, and fans from across the Commonwealth for a full slate of competitive performances right at home.
For schedules, ticket details, and additional spectator information, visit Events for October 2026.
For photos, upcoming competition schedules, and performance recaps, visit the Bourbon County Band Boosters website at bocoband.com.