About the Band

Learn more about the largest organization on the campus of East Carolina University

The Sound of Pirate Nation™

ECU Marching Pirates make ECU on the field during pregame

The East Carolina University Marching Pirates is one of the most spirited and rewarding activities East Carolina University offers! As the dominant spirit organization on campus, the band entertains more than three-hundred thousand fans each year at ECU games and regional high school marching band festivals. The band’s unique style combines exciting arrangements from diverse musical genres with traditional and contemporary drill design.

A Place for You

Whatever your band instrument or section, whatever your college major, we have a place for you. Our members take pride in the “family” atmosphere they create, which helps make our 28,000 student campus seem a whole lot friendlier. This diverse group of more than 250 students, the largest student organization on the ECU campus, represents a wide variety of majors from many schools in the university. In fact, only about one-fourth of the students in the Marching Pirates are music majors. Students of all ability levels from many different backgrounds participate in the band, and membership is open to all qualified students enrolled in the university.

smiling member of the ECU Marching Pirates
ECU Marching Pirates Dance Team Member

Financial Support Available

The ECU Marching Pirates Incentive Program provides financial support for some band members by rewarding their contributions of time, talent and leadership to our program. Currently, all third-year members, fourth-year members and undergraduate staff members (UGS) are eligible to receive $400 while mellophone, sousaphone and trombone players are eligible to receive $250.

Travel Opportunities

In recent years the band has traveled to football games at the U.S. Naval Academy, UNC Chapel Hill, Virginia Tech, Duke, South Carolina and NC State, and has performed “exhibition” performances at high school marching band festivals throughout North Carolina and Virginia, including trips to Washington, DC and Richmond, VA. Other performance highlights have included performing at the 2003 Rockingham NASCAR race and President George W. Bush’s visit to ECU in April 2001, as well as halftime shows for the Washington Redskins at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC, and for the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. The band has also performed in multiple bowl games!

When the Marching Pirates travel the cost of transportation, meals and lodging is provided by the university. All travel expenses are paid!

Featured Twirler leading ECU Marching Pirates

Interested in joining the Marching Pirates?

Fill out the form below, and we’ll send you everything you need to know.