2023 Dates
Regional Quarterfinals—October 21, 2023
Semifinals and Finals—October 28, 2023
Kentucky Marching Band Championship Manager
Dr. John Stroube — (859) 626-5635 — john@kmea.org
Participation
High school bands that attend two KMEA Sanctioned local contests become eligible to compete in the Regional Quarterfinals of the State Contest on Saturday, October 21, 2023. The top six bands from each Regional Quarterfinals site will advance to State Semifinals on October 28, 2023. Semifinals will be held at five separate sites. Six Finalist bands will be chosen from each classification. Finals will begin at 6:00 pm CDT at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium on the Western Kentucky University campus. Seating (see Seating below).
Group Photography
There will not be a Group Photographer at either round of the state championships.
2023 Regional Quarterfinals
CLICK HERE to see Regional Quarterfinals Performance Schedules
2023 1A/2A East Regional Quarterfinals – Estill County High School
Audience directions
2023 3A/4A East Regional Quarterfinals – Madison Southern High School
Site Map
Bus, equipment, & spectator routes
Audience directions
2023 1A/4A West Regional Quarterfinals – Muhlenberg County High School
Site Map
Bus, equipment, & spectator routes
Audience directions
2023 2A/3A West Regional Quarterfinals – Warren East High School
Audience directions
Semifinals and Finals
CLICK HERE to see the 2023 Semifinals and Finals Performance Schedule Shells
2023 Class A Semi-finals—Bowling Green High School
Detailed Schedule
Site Map
Equipment Routes
Directions from site to Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium
2023 Class AA Semi-finals—Warren East High School or Warren Central High School
Detailed Schedule
Contest Flow and Route map
Equipment and Spectator Parking Overview
Directions from site to Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium
2023 Class AAA Semi-finals—Warren East High School or Warren Central High School
Detailed Schedule
Site Map
Directions from site to Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium
2023 Class AAAA Semi-finals—Barren County High School
Detailed Schedule
Printable Site Map
Directions from site to Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium
2023 Class AAAAA Semi-finals—Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium
Detailed Schedule
Site Map
2023 Finals—Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium
Detailed Schedule
Site Map
Equipment Routes
2023 Ticket Sales General Information
Tickets at the gate
On Saturday, October 28 semifinals tickets (general admission) may be purchased at any of the semifinals sites, and finals tickets (reserved seat) may be purchased at WKU’s Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium after 8:30 AM CDT. The ticket booth will close at 1:00 PM CDT to reopen at 2:00 PM CDT that day, and tickets will be sold until the end of finals. Gates will open for Finals at 5:00 PM CDT. Handicap seating available upon request.
Children
Children age six and under will be admitted free, but will not be given a ticket. For Finals (reserved seating) children who are admitted free may have to be held by adults.
Tickets for Regional Quarterfinals (general admission $15.00) available onsite only.
Presale of tickets for Finals and 5A Semifinals (events held at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium)
Finals tickets and 5A Semifinals tickets may be purchased through the WKU Athletics Ticket Office.
Ticket pre-sales for 2023 will begin on Wednesday October 4, 2023 at 10:00 AM EDT, 9:00 AM CDT.
Finals tickets are reserved seating at $25.00 Regular, $30.00 Preferred, $35.00 Premium, and are available in advance or onsite. See Ticketed Section Diagram and/or Ticket Purchasing Diagram linked below.
Methods for purchasing finals tickets and 5A semifinals tickets (available only after 9:00 AM EDT, 8:00 AM CDT on Wednesday, October 4, 2023).
Via the internet at these links.
5A semifinals THIS WILL NOT WORK UNTIL OCTOBER 4!
Finals, all classes (To see what seats are still available in a section, click on that section). THIS WILL NOT WORK UNTIL OCTOBER 4!
By phone — 1-800-524-4733. Phone hours are between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM CDT Monday through Friday. TICKETS NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL OCTOBER 4!
WKU uses mobile tickets. Read here to see how that works.
Presale of Semifinals tickets for 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A
1A–4A Semifinals tickets (general admission, $15.00) will be sold through the KMEA Office begin on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 10:00 AM EDT through Thursday, October 19 at 4:30 PM. All tickets purchased by Thursday, October 19 and will be mailed to the buyer. Tickets WILL be sold at each semifinals and finals site but cannot be purchased onsite at the KMEA State Office.
You may order 1A–4A Semifinals ticket by either of four methods
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- By phone using a credit card — 859-626-5635 (phone hours are between 10:00 AM and 4:30 PM EDT).
- By email to jessica@kmea.org, P.O. Box 1058, Richmond, KY 40476-1058
- By mail to KMEA, P.O. Box 1058, Richmond, KY 40476-1058
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For email or mail—
1. Include a check with the Semifinals Ticket Order Form, or
2. Include an image of a signed PO with the Semifinals Ticket Order Form, or
3. Include credit card number, expiration date, and three-digit code on the Semifinals Ticket Order Form
4. By FAX to 859-626-1115 using the Semifinals Ticket Order Form
Presale of 1A–4A semifinals tickets will end on Thursday, October 19 at 4:30 PM EDT. (Finals and 5A semifinals will remain available, sold through the WKU Athletics Ticket Office.)
Admission/Passes
Performing Band Members are admitted free. One chaperone per 10 performers, Band Bus and Truck Drivers, and Band Directors receive passes or badges. Please note: All Band Staff must be listed on the Application Form in order to receive a badge for admission. No further passes will be available on the day of the event. Equipment handlers will be admitted to the performance area only and during your performance time only. In order to enter the audience area they will need to purchase tickets.
Concessions
This service is provided by the Band Boosters at the Semifinals host schools and is the one means through which we can reward them for the “extra mile” effort they are putting forth to host our State Contest. Please patronize the Concession stands. Contact Host director to arrange for group meals.