Judges and Awards
Scoring
In high school marching band competitions, scoring is based on two main categories: Music and Visual performance. Judges assess bands on musical precision, tone quality, and creativity within the Music category, while Visual scores focus on the accuracy of movements, formations, and overall visual effect. Additional categories like General Effect consider how well the show engages the audience and tells a cohesive story through coordinated music and motion. Each category is assigned specific points, which are then totaled to give each band a final score, helping to determine rankings and awards in the competition.
Judges for CBC24
General Effect - Bob Priest Music - Shelley Axelson
Marching/Visual - Trevor McMillan Drum Major - Lacie Hardee
Color Guard - Kaleigh McKillican Percussion - Bryan Beckner
Marching/Visual Class AA- David Miller
Matthew Shrewsbury Peoples Choice Award
The Matthew Shrewsbury People’s Choice Award celebrates the legacy of Matthew Shrewsbury, a former Pulaski County High School graduate and dedicated band director who inspired countless students and peers through his passion for music.
Mr. Shrewsbury led the Pulaski County High School band program for three years, overseeing marching, concert, symphonic, jazz bands, winter percussion, color guard, and chamber ensembles, all of which consistently earned excellent and superior ratings. Known for his dedication to the arts, he also founded the New River Wind Symphony, creating opportunities for community music-making.
Matt's vision gave life to the Cougar Band Classic, and in his honor, we recognize the band that best captures the heart of the audience with the People’s Choice Award—a tribute to the spirit of connection and excellence he cherished.