About the Band
Learn more about the largest organization on the campus of East Carolina University
The Sound of Pirate Nation™
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.
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!
Interested in joining the Marching Pirates?
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