Charleston’s Burke High School Band Selected for 2026 Florida Classic Battle of the Bands
Charleston’s High Stepping Bulldogs are heading to Orlando!
Burke High School’s High Stepping Bulldog Band has been selected to perform in the 2026 Florida Blue Battle of the Bands presented by Publix, joining some of the Southeast’s top high school marching bands for one of the signature events of Florida Classic Weekend.
The showcase takes place Friday, November 20, at 7 PM, inside the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida.
Charleston represented on a major stage
Burke High School is one of 11 participating high schools from South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
The lineup also includes Savannah High School’s Marching Blue Jackets, making this year’s showcase an exciting opportunity for marching bands from both Charleston and Savannah.
For Burke’s student musicians, the event provides an opportunity to represent their school and Charleston before a crowd celebrating marching band excellence.
Sharing the stage with HBCU marching band traditions
The evening will also feature extended performances by two nationally recognized HBCU bands:
- Florida A&M University’s Marching 100
- Bethune-Cookman University’s Marching Wildcats
The Battle of the Bands is part of Florida Classic Weekend, which centers on the historic football rivalry between Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman.
The universities face off Saturday, November 21, at 3:30 PM at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium.
Event details
Event: 2026 Florida Blue Battle of the Bands presented by Publix
Date: Friday, November 20, 2026
Time: 7 PM
Venue: Kia Center, Orlando, Florida
Charleston representative: Burke High School — High Stepping Bulldog Band
Information and tickets: https://floridaclassic.org/
Congratulations to Burke High School’s High Stepping Bulldogs on being selected for this year’s event!
Charleston will have plenty to cheer for when the band takes the stage in Orlando.
