With storm clouds gathering across Central Kentucky on Saturday, October 10, 2026, the Bourbon County Marching Colonels proved that adaptability is an essential virtue in the marching arts.
Faced with an ominous forecast calling for heavy incoming rain, contest organizers made the proactive call to bump the start time forward an hour to 12:00 PM and transition the competition into a high-stakes “one and done” format. Rather than running a traditional two-round preliminary and finals showcase, every ensemble had a single opportunity to put their best work on the turf at Bourbon County High School before awards were presented at 3:30 PM.
The compressed timeline only heightened the intensity, as bands across Classes A through 5A delivered impassioned performances for a panel of seasoned judges before the skies could open up.
Dunbar Soars to Top Score of the Day
Leading the field with the highest overall score of the competition was Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Class 5A), whose command of musical nuances and visual velocity yielded a stellar composite score of 85.100. Dunbar captured top marks across the board, posting a 34.30 in Music Performance, 16.90 in Visual Performance, and 33.90 in General Effect, while sweeping auxiliary captions with an 83 in Percussion (166.00 factored) and 150.00 in Color Guard.
Dunbar wasn’t the only program to break the elusive 80-point threshold. In Class 4A, Harrison County High School turned heads with a commanding show, scoring 81.050 to claim the 4A title and second-highest score of the day, propelled by a blistering 33.10 General Effect total and class sweeps in Guard (145.00) and Percussion (160.00).
Class 2A powerhouse Estill County High School delivered one of the day’s most celebrated runs, scoring an eye-popping 80.900—the third-highest mark across all classifications. Estill dominated Class AA in every caption, earning a 32.20 in Music, 16.40 in Visual, and 32.30 in General Effect, alongside an imposing 156.00 in Percussion and 140.00 in Guard.
Source: Myra Miller
Source: Myra Miller
Source: Myra Miller
Source: Myra Miller
Source: Myra Miller
Source: Myra Miller
Source: Myra Miller
Source: Myra Miller
Source: Myra MillerClass-by-Class Highlights
Class A: A Tenth-of-a-Point Thriller
Class A featured the closest battle of the afternoon, decided by just a single tenth of a point. Washington County High School edged out Nicholas County High School for first place, 69.050 to 68.950.
Washington County secured the victory behind top visual execution (14.55) and General Effect (27.40), including a first-place visual effect sub-score from judge B. Brown. Nicholas County claimed the top music total in the class (28.10) and the Class A Color Guard trophy (130.00). Host-town neighbor Paris High School finished third with a 64.450, led by the class’s highest-scoring percussion section (144.00), while Powell County High School rounded out the division in fourth with a solid 60.900.
Class AA: Estill County Commands the Field
Following Estill County’s class-winning 80.900 performance, East Jessamine High School earned second place with a score of 61.700, buoyed by second-place finishes in both Visual Performance and Percussion. Bardstown High School took third place with a 60.300, displaying strong individual music execution.
Class AAA: Madison Southern Captures First
In Class 3A, Madison Southern High School pulled away to capture the class championship with a total score of 73.950. The Berea ensemble swept all three primary captions—Music (29.10), Visual (15.35), and General Effect (29.50)—and claimed top percussion honors (154.00). Elizabethtown High School finished in second place with a 70.950, highlighted by winning the Class 3A Color Guard title with a 125.00.
Class 4A & 5A: Setting the Championship Standard
Harrison County (81.050) and Paul Laurence Dunbar (85.100) proved why they remain perennial postseason contenders in Kentucky. Performing back-to-back late in the contest order, both groups brought mature brass sounds, polished drill integrity, and impactful guard choreography that resonated clearly from press box to sideline.
2026 Colonel Classic Final Standings & Scores
| Rank | School | Class | Music | Visual | GE | Penalty | Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Laurence Dunbar H.S. | 5A | 34.30 | 16.90 | 33.90 | 0.0 | 85.100 |
| 2 | Harrison County H.S. | 4A | 31.70 | 16.25 | 33.10 | 0.0 | 81.050 |
| 3 | Estill County H.S. | 2A | 32.20 | 16.40 | 32.30 | 0.0 | 80.900 |
| 4 | Madison Southern H.S. | 3A | 29.10 | 15.35 | 29.50 | 0.0 | 73.950 |
| 5 | Elizabethtown H.S. | 3A | 28.20 | 14.05 | 28.70 | 0.0 | 70.950 |
| 6 | Washington County H.S. | 1A | 27.10 | 14.55 | 27.40 | 0.0 | 69.050 |
| 7 | Nicholas County H.S. | 1A | 28.10 | 13.95 | 26.90 | 0.0 | 68.950 |
| 8 | Paris H.S. | 1A | 26.10 | 13.15 | 25.20 | 0.0 | 64.450 |
| 9 | East Jessamine H.S. | 2A | 24.50 | 12.70 | 24.50 | 0.0 | 61.700 |
| 10 | Powell County H.S. | 1A | 24.20 | 12.40 | 24.30 | 0.0 | 60.900 |
| 11 | Bardstown H.S. | 2A | 24.90 | 12.20 | 23.20 | 0.0 | 60.300 |
Caption Award Summary
- Class A:
- 1st Place: Washington County (69.050)
- Best Guard: Nicholas County (130.00)
- Best Percussion: Paris (144.00)
- Class AA:
- 1st Place: Estill County (80.900)
- Best Guard: Estill County (140.00)
- Best Percussion: Estill County (156.00)
- Class AAA:
- 1st Place: Madison Southern (73.950)
- Best Guard: Elizabethtown (125.00)
- Best Percussion: Madison Southern (154.00)
- Class AAAA:
- 1st Place: Harrison County (81.050)
- Best Guard: Harrison County (145.00)
- Best Percussion: Harrison County (160.00)
- Class AAAAA:
- 1st Place: Paul Laurence Dunbar (85.100)
- Best Guard: Paul Laurence Dunbar (150.00)
- Best Percussion: Paul Laurence Dunbar (166.00)
Weathering the Challenge
Pulling off a multi-band marching competition in shifting autumn weather is no small feat. Thanks to swift coordination by host director Eric Hale, the Bourbon County Band Boosters, and school administration, every participating unit received judge commentary, high-definition recaps, and a dry window to showcase their hard work.
With the calendar turning toward late October, these ensembles now head into regional tournaments and KMEA State Marching Band Championship preparation battle-tested and equipped with valuable mid-season feedback.