Band Staff

Dustin Wallace attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) and received his BA in music education in May of 2017.  Dustin started his teaching career at Wilkes Central Middle and High School in 2017. He restarted the competitive marching band program at Wilkes Central, created an after-school percussion ensemble program, and helped his students to earn the school's first Straight Superior Rating at MPA in over 15 years. He then moved to Charlotte and became the band director at South Mecklenburg High School in 2019. At South Meck he reinstated the Winter Guard program in 2020 and helped lead the guard to an undefeated inaugural season, that was unfortunately cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  In the fall of 2021, Dustin happily accepted the position of band director at East Lincoln High School.

 Dustin was a Young Director Award of Excellence nominee in 2021 for the South Central District Bandmasters Association. Dustin is also an active member of the North Carolina Bandmasters Association serving as the High School All-State Honors Band representative for the South Central District.

 Dustin has many years of marching experience. He was a member of the Carolina Gold Drum and Bugle Corps in 2011, 2012, and 2014. He was also a member of the World Class, Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps in 2014 and 2015.

 Dustin moved to Stanley, NC in 2022 where he lives with his dog named Delta and plans to stay for a long time to build a career here at East Lincoln High School.

Jennifer Beck grew up in Lexington, North Carolina and is an alumnus of the Central Davidson Bands program. While a student of James Daugherty at Central Davidson, she participated in competitive marching band, concert band, and auditioned at the county, district, and state levels during her time as a student. In high school, Ms. Beck attended Cannon Music Camp at Appalachian State University.

Ms. Beck graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. While at Appalachian State, Ms. Beck performed in the Appalachian Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Basketball pep band and ASU Marching Mountaineers. Ms. Beck was an active member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity and held the positions of Vice President and President of the organization. Ms. Beck also had the opportunity to lead the Marching Mountaineers as Drum Major her senior year.

Prior to her appointment at East Lincoln, Ms. Beck was the Director of Bands at Wheatmore High School. Under Ms. Beck’s direction, the program found success in competitive marching band, solo and ensemble, county, district, state events, and the NC Music Performance Adjudication performance. The Concert Band received multiple superior ratings and in May 2017 received a Proclamation of Congratulations from Mayor Jesse Hill of Trinity, NC.

In July 2018, Ms. Beck was named the Director of Bands at East Lincoln Middle School and Assistant Director at East Lincoln High School. Ms. Beck looks forward to continuing the tradition of excellence and pride that is found at East Lincoln.

Ms. Beck is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, the National Association for Music Education, the North Carolina Music Educators Association, and Women Band Directors International.

Nick Rodriguez is proud to have been working with the East Lincoln marching band since 2015. 

He is a 2010 graduate of the program where he marched 5 seasons in the brass section. Nick went on to Western Carolina University performing in the "Pride if the Mountains" marching band for 5 seasons. During that time he was a participant in Drum Corp International for 3 summers - spending 2 seasons with finalist group Spirit of Atlanta, and 1 season with the bronze medalist Cadets.

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My name is Connor Blumenthal and I am from Charlotte, North Carolina. I am a music education major at Appalachian State University, with my primary instrument as piano and secondary as trumpet.  

Music has been a huge part of my life, since I can remember. I started playing Trombone in 5th grade and joined my high school marching band in 9th grade. I attended Western Carolina University and participated in the marching band for five years (2010-2015). I also marched Baritone with the 2012 Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps. I currently live with my girlfriend and our two cats in Atlanta, GA.