05/24/2026
As we close the final chapter of the Christian County Colonel Band, we reflect on a legacy that has shaped generations of students, families, and our entire community. For nearly 60 years, the Colonel Band has stood as a symbol of pride, excellence, tradition, and heart — a program built through dedication, resilience, and a shared belief in something greater than ourselves.
At the heart of this legacy is the leadership that guided the program through each era. The program opened in 1959 under the direction of George Milam, the founding director, who built the foundation of band education in Christian County by starting programs at the elementary and middle school levels before those students transitioned into the high school band.
In 1974, Jim Wright took over the program and continued its growth through 1978. From 1978 to 1998, Bill Fisher served as director, becoming the longest-tenured band director in the history of the Colonel Band.
Colonel Band Alumni, Scott Estes led the program from 1998 to 2003, followed by Lori Boehman, who served from 2003 to 2010 and holds the distinction of being the first and only female head director in program history. From 2010 to 2015, James Gregory led the program, becoming the first African American band director of the Colonel Band.
In 2015, Anthony Darnall took over the program and served through its final chapter in 2026, leading the Colonel Band legacy into its closing years.
In addition to these directors, the success of the Colonel Band was made possible by an incredible team of assistant directors, instructors, and staff who poured into the lives of students year after year. Those educators include but aren't limited to: Dick Weaver, Susan “Parks” Waters, Bill Perrine, Brad Rogers, Heather Winkler, Brock Cobb, Calvin Warren III, Andrea “Gray” Armour, Zenon Garcia, Nataniel Nash, Bonnie Stone, Noah Gawarecki, Noah Siegfried, Jose Rodriguez, Tony Pendleton, Chasity Lindsey, Mikey McGowan, Brad Deason, Ondraus Cissell, Adam Alexander, Bart Dixon, and Cindy Roop.
The program was also shaped by outstanding color guard instructors who built a legacy of excellence and artistry, including but not limited to: Shirley Prunitsch, Steven Ferguson, Alyssa Ross, Brittany Fleming, Mason Bumgardner, Chris Dulin, Randall Waters, Robin Henderson, Amanda King, John David Duncan, Miralyn Fears, and Tina Lancaster.
As a young and emerging program, the Christian County Marching Colonel Band quickly began making its mark on the band community in the 1970s. During this decade, the Colonel Band rose to national prominence, earning invitations to perform in some of the most prestigious parades in the country — including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, where it became the first high school band from Kentucky to participate, as well as the Orange Bowl Parade and the Tournament of Roses Parade.
In 1978, the band continued its national presence with an invitation to perform in the DeSoto Festival in Bradenton, Florida. The decade culminated in 1979 when the Marching Colonel Band earned the title of Large Class Kentucky State Champion at the Murray State Festival of Champions, which served as the state championship event at the time. These early achievements laid the foundation for what would become a tradition of excellence for decades to come.
This rich history continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s as the band was named a State Finalist several times at the Murray State Festival of Champions, winning its second State Championship in 1982. That same year, the band was invited to perform in the Fiesta Bowl Parade in Phoenix, Arizona, further establishing its national reputation.
As the Kentucky Music Educators Association introduced the official State Marching Band Championships in 1986, the Colonel Band continued to rise. Since that time, the band has earned a place in the prestigious KMEA State Finals eight times: 1987, 1994, 1995, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 — a testament to sustained excellence across generations. In 2025, the program reached a historic milestone, earning its first KMEA State Championship in the modern era.
The Colonel Marching Band legacy has continued to grow throughout the 21st century, representing our community in Kentucky Governor’s Inauguration Parades, the Kentucky Derby Pegasus Parade, and competing at a high level across the KMEA circuit. On the national stage, the band has performed at three Bands of America Grand National Championships, narrowly missing semifinals by just 0.6 points in 2023. In 2025, the program also achieved its first-ever Bands of America Regional Finalist appearance — another defining moment in its history.
Beyond marching band success, the concert bands and student ensembles have built a tradition of musical excellence centered on student growth and achievement. The Christian County Concert Bands have consistently earned Distinguished ratings at Concert Band Assessments, reflecting a commitment to high-level musicianship. Students from the program have been well represented in All-District and All-State ensembles, continuing a long-standing tradition of individual excellence. There are many professional musicians and music educators that are Colonel Band Alumni.
From their earliest days in the Christian County Middle School band program, students have been challenged to develop the musicianship, discipline, and character that define this organization. That commitment has led to numerous featured performances at the KMEA State Professional Development Conference, including the Christian County Middle School Percussion Ensemble (2020), the Christian County Middle School Band, the Christian County High School Percussion Ensemble (twice), the Christian County High School Jazz Ensemble (twice), and most recently, the Christian County High School Symphonic Band in 2025.
But beyond the awards, performances, and recognitions, the true legacy of the Colonel Band lives in its people.
For thousands of students, this program was more than a band — it was a family. It was early mornings, late nights, summer band camps, bus rides, Friday night lights, and moments that turned into lifelong memories. It was friendships that will last forever and lessons that extended far beyond music.
While this chapter comes to a close, the legacy of the Colonel Band does not end here. It lives on in every student who wore the uniform, every parent who supported the journey, and every educator who gave their time and heart to this program. That foundation will carry forward into the next chapter.
To everyone who has been part of this incredible story — thank you. You helped build something truly special that will never be forgotten.
Enjoy this tribute from Colonel Band Alumni and current Assistant Band Director Calvin Warren.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrG8DOvkuyY
Once a Colonel, always a Colonel. ❤️💙🎶
A Visual History of the Colonel Band all the way til it's final days. Although the Christian County Band is excited for their new adventure, the Colonel Band...
