Staff

Dr. Joe Busuito

Associate Director of Bands & Director of Athletic Bands

Dr. Joe Busuito directs the ECU Marching Pirates and the basketball pep band, and conducts the Symphonic Band (Fall 2020–present).

Dr. Busuito was the assistant director of concert and athletic bands at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, from 2017 to 2020. He was the director of the Rutgers Symphony Band and he instructed the Marching Scarlet Knights and pep bands. He was a member of the music education faculty and served as the instructor for the brass instrumental techniques course and the first-year conducting class.

Dr. Busuito holds the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in Instrumental Conducting, Wind Band from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Master of Music in Wind Conducting from Western Michigan University and Bachelor of Music Education from Western Michigan University. His research has been published in the WASBE Journal and he has presented at the CBDNA National Conference.

From 2009 to 2013, he was assistant director of bands at Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan where he instructed three concert bands, jazz band, marching band, guitar and general music classes.

Dr. Busuito has been involved in the drum corps activity since 2006. After moving to New Jersey in 2017, he was a member of the brass staff of the Cadets. From 2012 through 2015, Busuito served as a brass staff member for the Santa Clara Vanguard, primarily instructing the baritones. He joined the brass staff of the Bluecoats in 2011 where he taught the baritones and euphoniums. He was a member of the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2006 and 2007.

Contact Information:
Dr. Joe Busuito
Associate Director of Bands & Director of Athletic Bands
School of Music
East Carolina University
busuitoj20@ecu.edu

Dr. William Staub

Director of Bands

Aaron Kingsberry

Assistant Drumline Instructor

Prior to teaching at Northside, Mr. Kingsberry was the director of Bands at North Pitt High School in Bethel, NC. Mr. Kingsberry was named North Pitt High School’s 2016-2017 Teacher of the Year, WITN’s Teacher of the Week and has received numerous other local awards and grants to build that band program. Under Mr. Kingsberry’s direction at North Pitt grew from 17 students in his first year of teaching to 120 students in the middle of his sixth year as Director of Bands. 

Aaron is a 2012 graduate of East Carolina University and holds a Bachelors degree in Music Education. While at ECU, he participated in many of ensembles that included the ECU Marching Pirates, Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble and Percussion Players.

During his high school years of 2003-2007, Mr. Kingsberry was in a band of 175 under the direction of retired band director Richard Bergman of Herndon High School in Herndon, Virginia and Stacey Loggins, percussionist of the US Navy Band and ECU Graduate.

In addition to his duties at Northside and the ECU Marching Pirates, Mr. Kingsberry is a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc and Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity. His professional organizations are North Carolina Bandmasters Association and National Association for Music Education.

Contact Information:

ecudrumline@gmail.com

Connor MacRae

Assistant Drumline Instructor & Assistant Photographer

Connor MacRae graduated from ECU in 2010 with a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering. He marched in the band from 2006-2010 as a section leader and worked on staff until 2012. Since that time he has traveled all over the US and parts of Europe for work projects and pursuing his love of photography and has been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, and has had his work used by the German National Tourist Board.

He currently resides in Garner, NC and works as a Project Engineer for a Pharmaceutical company in Clayton.

Lynda Kachman

Colorguard Instructor

2022 marks the 31st year that Lynda Kachman has been involved in the color guard activity.  In high school, Lynda was a member of the award-winning South Granville HS color guard/winter guard programs (’94-’97).  While in high school, she was a performing member of the Tarheel Sun Drum & Bugle Corps colorguard as well as Carolina Visual Productions Winter Guard.  She later went on to perform as a member/soloist with Carolina Gold Drum and Bugle Corps from 2003-2004 and also served as Carolina Gold’s guard co-caption head in 2006 as well.

Lynda served as an instructor and later caption head of the Scotland County High School marching band and winterguard programs from 2001-2009 and 2011-2018. During that period of time the Scotland HS Guard program established themselves as one of the premier program in the state of NC and won numerous caption awards and many indoor championships.  In 2006, Lynda helped lead the Scotland Winter Guard to the WGI A Class Silver Medal.  In addition to Scotland County High School, Lynda has designed for and instructed at many high schools in North Carolina including Cape Fear HS, Greene Central HS, Clinton HS, Midway HS, and many more.  Currently she is the Director of Guard Activities at Holly Springs High School and Assistant Director of 2018 WGI A Class Finalist Carolina Visual Productions.

Lynda lives in Farmville, NC and has been married to ECU Marching Pirates drumline alumni (’92-’93) Mike Kachman for 15 years.  They have 3 daughters, with their eldest scheduled to attend East Carolina in the Fall of 2019.  Lynda is currently teaching health sciences at Farmville Central High School. 

“Guard has always been such a passion of mine, all the way back to 6th grade, and I am so excited to take this next step and be a part of the Pirate Nation” 

Lyndsee Holder

Assistant Colorguard Instructor

2022 marks the first year that Lyndsee Holder will be serving as Assistant Colorguard Instructor for the East Carolina University Marching Pirates. Lyndsee originally started her performance career at Midway High School (2012-2017). Lyndsee obtained a Bachelor of Science in Recreational Therapy from East Carolina University in the Spring of 2022, during which she was a member of the Marching Pirates (2017-2022). 

Lyndsee currently lives in Greenville, North Carolina with her fiancé, Logan and their dog, Salem. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Recreation Sciences and expects to graduate in 2024. 

“Guard has been a long-time passion of mine, and I look forward to working with such an amazing organization.”

Allison Schaefer

Assistant Colorguard Instructor

2023 marks the first year that Allison Schaefer will be serving as Assistant Colorguard Instructor for the East Carolina University Marching Pirates. Allison originally started her performance career as a Holly Springs Jr Hawk (2015). She then continued to perform with the Holly Springs High School Golden Hawks Regiment and Winter Guard Program from 2015-2019. Allison obtained her Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education with a concentration in General Science at East Carolina University in the Spring of 2023, during which she was a member of the Marching Pirates Colorguard and Carolina Visual Productions Winter Guard (2019-2023). During her college career, she also continued to work with Holly Springs High School during their Fall seasons as a tech for their Color Guard.

Allison currently lives in Greenville, North Carolina with her boyfriend Brian and two bunnies Pepsi and Cola. She is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Science Education and expects to graduate in 2024.

“Guard has always been my creative outlet, and I am so glad that I get to continue to share it with members of an organization that helped make me the performer that I am today.”

Dr. Kristen Jeffries

Dance Team Coach

Kristin has been the ECU Dance Team Coach since the fall of 2004. While an undergraduate student at ECU she danced for two years on the team. Since taking over as the head coach for the ECU Dance Team, Kristin has expanded the program to include performing with the Marching Pirates at all home football games and select Volleyball games. While participating in all of these events, the team continues to diligently support the men’s and women’s basketball teams at all home games as well as post season tournaments. The team competes annually at the NCA/NDA Collegiate National Championships in Florida. The team is currently nationally ranked.

Kristin worked with the Universal Dance Association (UDA) for ten years. She was a dance instructor for summer camps as well as a head instructor for camps on the east coast for five years. During her time with UDA she worked with groups at the Capital One Bowl in Orlando Florida to prepare the pregame show as well as traveling to London, England to prepare for New Years Day parade performances. Kristin continues to judge for UDA and consults with many local teams for competitions and tryouts.

Along with coaching the Dance Team at ECU, Kristin is a school counselor at Chicod School in Greenville.​

Contact Information:

jeffriesk@ecu.edu

Emma Wells

Assistant Dance Team Coach

My name is Emma Wells, I am the Assistant Dance Team Coach at ECU. I have been coaching for 4 years, this will be my 5th year as a member of the Marching Pirates Staff. I am an alumni from ECU and was on the dance team and a part of the Marching Pirates all 4 years of undergrad. While on the team, I performed at football games, basketball games, baseball games, and  competed at our National competition that we attend each year. 

Outside of ECU, I am a Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist. I got my masters in speech/language pathology at Appalachian State University. I currently work at a Private Practice in the Greenville area. 

Kristin asked me to be her assistant coach when I returned back to Greenville after graduate school and I could not pass up the opportunity to be a part of Pirate Nation again. Pirate Nation, the ECU Dance Team, and the Marching Pirates hold a special place in my heart and I am happy to be a part of this awesome program. 

Mackenzie Haswell

Assistant Dance Team Coach

Mackenzie has been with the ECU Dance Team since the fall of 2019. She was a member of the team and Marching Pirates for 4 years, and served as Game Day Captain her senior year. She recently graduated from ECU with an undergraduate degree in Business Marketing and a secondary in Professional Selling. While on the team, she performed at all home football games, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, and has competed three times at the NCA/NDA Collegiate National Championship in Daytona, Florida. The team was ranked top 3, nationally, in both the Pom and Spirit Rally divisions her senior year.

Mackenzie is currently pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration while serving as an assistant coach. Mackenzie also works with Universal Dance Association (UDA) where she is a dance instructor, traveling around the country teaching summer camps and working special events.

Mackenzie is most excited to take on the new season from a different perspective. As this will be here first year assistant coaching the ECU Dance Team, she notes how thrilled she is for this new chapter in her life. “I am so fortunate for this opportunity Coach Kristin Jeffries has given me. I have always had a passion not only for dance, but watching others succeed. It fills me with so much pride to see the impact I can have on others. I am a true Pirate, and am forever indebted to the athletics program, Marching Pirates, and ECU!”

Dr. Chesley Black

Drum Major Instructor

Dr. Chesley Black is the Drum Major Instructor of the East Carolina University Marching Pirates (2020–present, 2009–2014. While an undergraduate student at ECU, Dr. Black served as Head Drum Major for several years. He has 27 years of experience teaching drum majors at the high school, university and drum corps level, and has been involved with the marching band activity for a total of 31 years. Dr. Black is also an active clinician and adjudicator for several programs and competitions.

Dr. Black served as the Student Leadership Program & Media Director of the UNC Charlotte “Pride of Niner Nation” Marching Band (2015–2019), and as Drum Major Instructor of the North Lincoln High School “Band of Knights” in Lincolnton, North Carolina (2003–2018) and the East Lincoln High School “Mustang Band” in Denver, North Carolina (2010–2014, 1999–2003.

Dr. Black received his doctorate in organizational leadership/higher education administration from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. He also received a Master of Science degree in Instructional Technology, a Graduate Certificate in Performance Improvement, a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management Information Systems, and a Certificate in Business and Technical Communication from East Carolina University.

Aside from his active band schedule, Dr. Black is also the Vice President of Operations and Global Workplace Strategy & Innovation at SPS North America.

Contact Information:

• chesleyblack@gmail.com
• LinkedIn

Alvin Taylor

Assistant Director of Athletic Bands

Alvin Taylor received his bachelors degree in the spring of 2021 and his Masters in the spring of 2023 from East Carolina University. Both degrees are in Percussion Performance. 

Alvin has performed with a wide variety of performing ensembles at ECU including the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Band B, Zamba Yawar, Marching Pirates, Basketball Pep Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Pirate Steel Band which he now directs. 

Alvin currently lives in Raleigh with his wife  Hannah, French Bulldog Trixie, and Tuxedo Cat Lefty. Alvin has taught both classical and marching percussion at various high schools across the eastern part of state including, Camden High School, Greene Central High School, Wake Forest High School , Havelock High School, New Bern High School, and Currituck High School. 

While teaching part-time, Alvin also plays with a variety of professional and semi-professional ensembles including the Tar River Symphony Orchestra, Durham Symphony, and Triangle Brass Band.

Georgia Kate Shelton

Graduate Assistant

Georgia Kate (aka GG) received her bachelor’s degree from ECU in Music Education, where she studied clarinet with Dr. Douglas Moore Monroe. After graduating in 2020, she got offered a Band Director position at Triton High School in Dunn, NC where she taught for 3 years. Triton High School’s band received excellent and superior ratings in marching band and concert band while GG was there!

After 3 years of teaching, GG decided to come back to Pirate Country and is now a full-time Graduate Student. She is pursuing a master’s degree in Wind Conducting, studying with Dr. William Staub. She is also the Graduate Assistant and Woodwind Tech for the Marching Pirates!

Michelle Fuller

Medical Assistant

Yankee Born and Southern Bred, Michelle is an ECU Pirate with a strong will and a huge heart. She graduated from ECU in May of 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Communication with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism. She was a member of the Marching Pirates Colorguard from 2005-2009 and served as a squad leader for three years. At present, she is  a full time nurse in the pediatric ICU in Greenville and works part time as a paramedic/firefighter. Michelle has been a part of the band’s medical team since 2011.

In four years as a member of the colorguard, Michelle had the opportunity to march on the field at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC, perform in front of thousands at the Liberty Bowl, become a part of history on the field at the US Naval Academy, celebrate strength with the fans at Virginia Tech, and build memories to last a lifetime. However, her greatest Marching Pirates memory wouldn’t come from her time as a student, it would come on the night of November 19, 2011 after ECU defeated UCF for the final home game of the season. What seemed like any ordinary football game soon became one of the most thought out and organized surprises Michelle has ever experienced. Her best friend and medical team partner Kevin Fuller had been secretly planning it for months. He had everyone involved, the band, the staff, the couple’s closest friends, Michelle’s sorority sisters and her family, even the schools mascot! Kevin had the band distract Michelle by playing “Hey Baby” (… I wanna know if you’ll be my girl), got PeeDee the Pirate to pull her away and pretend to propose and then while her head was turned, he traded places with PeeDee and when she looked back he asked her to be his wife. The couple will forever share one of their greatest memories together with the people that have grown into their extended family, the ECU Marching Pirates! Michelle can’t wait to spend another memorable season working with this amazing organization and helping to make the Pirates the best they can be! Go Pirates!

Check out their proposal video below:

Kevin Fuller

Medical Assistant

North Carolina native, Kevin has been cheering for the Pirates for as long as he can remember. In 1993, Kevin enlisted in the Navy and was sent to Treasure Island, California. He was stationed on board the USS Carl Vincent and served as a DC Fireman and Shore Patrol during Desert Storm. After getting out of the Navy in 1996, Kevin returned to North Carolina and obtained certifications as a Firefighter and an EMT. Kevin is currently a fulltime Firefighter/EMT and is working on his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Fire Science with Kaplan University.

Kevin joined the Marching Pirates staff in 2011 as part of the medical team and was quickly welcomed in as part of the family. On November 19, 2011, after ECU defeated UCF in the final home game of the season, Kevin left his “forever” mark on the Marching Pirates. He enlisted the help of the band, the staff, a few family members, some good friends, and of course PeeDee the Pirate, to pull off an unforgettable proposal to his medical team partner Michelle.The next season, the two started as partners and ended the year as husband and wife. With the help of Michelle and his new band family, Kevin has learned how to “Paint it Purple,” Party like a Pirate and bleed Purple & Gold!

Amanda Brendle

Photographer

Amanda is the photographer of the East Carolina University Marching Pirates (2010-present). She graduated from ECU in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship. As an undergraduate, she played tenor saxophone with the Marching Pirates and ECU Pep Band from 2006-2010, serving in several leadership positions. She is also a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity.

Amanda resides in Raleigh, NC with her husband and two girls, where she works as a photographer and a crafter.

Contact Information:
amandabrendlephoto@gmail.com

Shawn Jeffries

Videographer

Shawn, a native of Ohio/Pennsylvania, attended Ohio State University and then enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1998. After serving at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC until 2002, he moved to Greenville. He earned his associate’s degree from Martin Community College and his Bachelor’s Degree in Health Management from East Carolina University. Currently he works full time as a Physical Therapy Assistant at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville.

Shawn has worked with the Marching Pirates as our videographer since 2009. Although a true Buckeye fan, he has become a pirate fan and supporter.

He resides in Winterville with his wife Kristin Jeffries, ECU Dance Team Coach and their daughter Reagan.

Ron Barringer

Voice of the Marching Pirates

A proud alum of the 1989 ECU Marching Pirates, Ron Barringer has served as the “Voice of The Marching Pirates” since 2015. Ron is a native of Washington, NC and began both his music and Public Address careers during high school. A 1987 graduate of Washington High School, Ron attended ECU and Chowan University studying music as a low brass major at both schools. While in college, Ron also served as Public Address announcer for the men’s basketball team at Chowan from 1993-1995. He has worked at several radio stations in North Carolina and Virginia throughout his career as an “on-air” personality and has performed Public Address for numerous events including athletics, talent shows, fashion shows, and marching band competitions. Ron began his teaching career in 1993 and earned his B.S. in Music Education from Chowan University in 1995. Ron is a veteran educator who taught the complete spectrum of band and music in public and private schools across all grade levels through the 2003 school year.

In 2004, he received a Masters degree in School Administration from NC State University. Along with his duties as the “Voice” of the Marching Pirates,” Ron also provides PA for several other sports at ECU. In 2019, Ron was inducted as an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi fraternity at ECU.

He continues to serve on staff with the Marching Pirates, Clarke Co. (Virginia) High School Bands, and performs with various community musical ensembles. He serves his church playing in the worship band.

Ron has been married to his wife, Michelle, for 23 years and resides in Wake Forest, NC. They have one daughter, Aurora.

Karen Carps

Website & Social Media

A Pirate through and through, Karen graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor of Music from ECU, after which she taught music at various levels in both North Carolina and Virginia. Her last job with the public school system in her hometown near Richmond, Virginia was as an instructional technology integrator, and she trained teachers to use technology to engage students with the curriculum.

When her oldest daughter was born in 2009, she decided she wanted to be able to stay home and create her own schedule to be a more available mom. She had received some web training as a tech integrator, so she expanded on it and started her own freelance business called GuppyFish Web Design. What started as a very part time side business has steadily grown to a digital marketing firm specializing in website design, social media, and email marketing.

Karen first created a website for the Marching Pirates in 2014 and has worked with them ever since. She loves being able to combine her loves of music, tech, and ECU to help this organization grow. She currently lives near Richmond, Virginia with her husband, two daughters, and their rescue dog, Lucy.