By Jennifer Jahn
NKyTribune staff writer
A day of challenging weather, spirited performances and school pride brought approximately 1,100 student musicians to Campbell County High School recently for the 55th annual Northern Kentucky Marching Band Festival.
The festival welcomed 16 competing bands from Kentucky and Ohio, along with the Campbell County Band of Pride, which performed in exhibition. Among the day’s highlights, Beechwood High School earned Grand Champion honors, Highlands High School claimed first place in Class AA, and Scott High School earned the Fan Favorite award.
For the participating students, the competition offered an opportunity to showcase months of preparation, demonstrate their growth as performers, and share the stories behind their shows with an audience of fellow musicians, families and marching band supporters.
“Being named Grand Champion of the contest is a tremendous honor for our students and our entire program,” said Austin Bradley, director of bands at Beechwood High School. “Our students and staff have worked incredibly hard throughout the summer and fall to reach this point, investing hundreds of hours in rehearsals and preparation.”
Beechwood’s 2026 production, “What an Impression!,” explores how impressions of others change over time, moving from an initial encounter to a deeper understanding and, ultimately, a lasting impact.
The show is divided into three movements: “First Impression,” “Deeper Impression” and “Lasting Impression.” Its visual design draws inspiration from an art gallery, featuring large mirrored frames, gallery-style pedestals and metallic silver uniforms.
The musical selections combine works by American composers Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland with music by French Impressionist composers Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. Together, the contrasting styles help the band move from bold, attention-grabbing moments to more intimate passages before a powerful conclusion.
Bradley said one of the band’s strengths this season has been its combination of musical maturity, visual performance, and ability to communicate the production’s emotional elements.
“Our show is designed to be both visually exciting and musically expressive, and the students have really embraced the challenge of bringing those elements together,” he said.
The Grand Champion recognition was especially rewarding for the Beechwood students, who had competed only once before the Northern Kentucky festival this season.
Bradley said the students were thrilled when the results were announced, noting that recognition at a large competition featuring numerous outstanding bands was both humbling and motivating.
He was also proud of how the students responded to challenging weather and adjustments to the competition schedule.
“They never allowed those distractions to affect their preparation or their performance,” Bradley said.
Although the result marked a significant step forward, Bradley said the band remains focused on continued improvement as it enters the final weeks of its season.
“Our goal is to become the very best version of ourselves,” he said. “If we focus on the fundamentals of performance and work to improve every day, we will put ourselves in a great position to be successful in competition.”
Highlands celebrates growth and belonging
Highlands High School earned first place in the Class AA awards with a production titled “BeLonging,” centered on the message “You Belong Here.”
For Director of Bands Lori Duncan, the performance reflected the progress the program has made throughout the season and the students’ investment in their show, their band, and their school.
“The band feels that this is a way to show the progress that we’ve made over the season,” Duncan said. “It is a visual representation of the hard work that the band has done, and the passion they have for the show, the band, and their school.”
Duncan described the program’s development over the past four years as remarkable. She said the band has progressed from barely making finals to becoming Mid-States Band Association champions, and maintaining that title.
The response to “BeLonging” also demonstrated how deeply the students connected with the show’s message. Duncan described an emotional performance marked by tears, cheers, hugs, and high-fives.
That response went beyond what she initially anticipated when the band began developing a production centered on belonging.
“This has been our motto all season,” Duncan said. “I am so happy you are here. YOU BELONG HERE. The kids know it, feel it, and perform it.”
The production’s message gave students an opportunity to communicate something beyond musical and visual excellence, emphasizing connection and the importance of making others feel welcome.
Scott High School wins Fan Favorite
For Scott High School, the Northern Kentucky Marching Band Festival offered both a chance to perform close to home and an opportunity to connect with audiences through a show rooted in Kentucky life.
The band’s 2026 production, “The Front Porch,” draws inspiration from Director of Bands Dallas Hunt’s childhood growing up in rural Kentucky. The show tells a story through the everyday happenings associated with a front porch, using familiar musical themes, and upbeat sections to bring the production to life.
Hunt said the setting and subject matter helped make the show relatable to audiences, while the music gave the performance its own distinctive energy.
“Our show is set apart by the recognizable themes we play, but our groovy and upbeat sections of music too,” Hunt said. “It has not only been a fun show to write, but a fun show to watch!”
That connection helped Scott earn the festival’s Fan Favorite award. For Hunt, the recognition reflected the students’ enjoyment of the production and their ability to communicate its message to the audience.
“Winning the award for fan favorite means that our show was not only relatable, but our students had fun and got across the message!” he said.
The local setting also made the competition particularly meaningful for the Scott band community, giving friends, family members and other supporters an opportunity to attend and cheer on the students.
“Having a contest so close to school means that our supporters can also be there to cheer us on!” Hunt said.
Despite the difficult conditions, Hunt said he was especially proud of the band’s performance in the rain and wind, which he described as the hardest weather in which to perform.
He also praised the students for maintaining professionalism throughout the activity, demonstrating that a successful performance involves more than music and marching. Their ability to meet the challenge reflected the discipline and preparation required of a marching band.
A tradition spanning more than five decades
Dating back to 1972, the Northern Kentucky Marching Band Festival has developed into a longstanding tradition for marching bands throughout the Tri-State region.
The event’s history is represented by the Governor’s Cup, a traveling trophy engraved with the names of past winners. During the 39th annual festival in 2010, Gov. Steve Beshear proclaimed Sept. 18 as “Northern Kentucky Marching Band Festival Day.” The proclamation remains displayed in the Campbell County High School band room.
Over the years, the festival has evolved from an independent regional event into a Kentucky Music Educators Association-sanctioned show and, more recently, a Mid-States Band Association competition. It now attracts bands from Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana.
Many participating directors and staff members also have personal connections to the event, having competed at the festival themselves as high school students.
Campbell County’s facilities, experienced staff and organized volunteer support help make the event accessible to visiting bands. As performers move from their buses to staging areas, members of the Campbell County Band of Pride and their families welcome and encourage the visiting students.
The festival also provides Campbell County students with opportunities to develop leadership and organizational skills. Students assist with registration, guide visiting bands, work concessions, distribute water and cheer for performers throughout the day.
The event’s student-led nature reflects the structure of marching band itself, where individual responsibilities contribute to a larger performance. Each student has a role in helping the band and festival succeed, building confidence, discipline, and accountability along the way.
Community support makes the festival possible
Behind the performances is a substantial volunteer effort involving band directors, school staff, families, alumni, sponsors, and community members.More than 120 volunteers help prepare food, organize activities, move equipment, and manage the many details required to host a competition of this size.
The Campbell County Band Boosters, led by President Carrie Young, play a central role in coordinating that support. Business and individual sponsors also contribute financial resources and awards that enhance the experience for participating bands.
Young said hosting the festival gives Campbell County an opportunity to showcase its school facilities, hospitality and community spirit. It brings families, students, and spectators to Alexandria.The influx of visitors also provides an opportunity for local businesses to benefit from the event.
For younger students, the competition offers a firsthand look at marching band and may inspire them to join Campbell County’s Band of Pride in the future.
Looking toward the next 55 years
As the festival celebrated its 55th year, its continued success reflected both the evolution of marching band and the enduring value of the experience for students.
Modern marching band productions increasingly incorporate theatrical elements, including thematic uniforms, props, choreography and electronic effects. Yet the fundamentals remain the same: students must learn to perform together, respond to challenges, and work toward a shared goal.
Organizers hope the festival will continue to provide students with positive experiences, lasting friendships, and lessons that extend beyond the field.
“My hope is that the current members of the Campbell County Band of Pride remember the Northern Kentucky Marching Band Festival, and the marching band activity all together, as a positive, formative part of their life, full of lasting lessons and fond memories,” said Dean Marotta, Campbell County’s director of percussion and associate director of bands. “And that someday THEIR kids will get to experience it in the same way.
“Here’s to another 55 years!”