Our Staff & Team
The Directors
Dr. Alston Pettigrew
Director of Bands
Dr. Alston Pettigrew is entering his seventh year at Westside High School. In his short tenure, Dr. Pettigrew has expanded the band department at Westside High School to include two jazz bands, two winterguards, indoor concert percussion, an award-winning marching band, and concert band. Prior to working at Westside, Dr. Pettigrew served as Director of Bands at Palmetto High a School in Williamston, SC. While at Palmetto High, Dr. Pettigrew grew the band program from seventeen members to seventy. In addition to the program growth, Dr. Pettigrew qualified the Mustang Regiment for the SC State Marching Band Championships for the first time in fifteen years, began a winter guard program that placed third in the Carolina Indoor Performance Association Championships during their inaugural season, had a winter guard placed first overall in the Carolina Indoor Performance Association Championships during their second year of existence, had a school-record number of Superiors during the South Carolina Band Directors Association Solo and Ensemble Festival, and served as an assistant coach on the 2A State Championship winning softball team.
Academically, Dr. Pettigrew holds a Bachelors of Music Education from Anderson University, Masters of Science in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University, Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Liberty University (VA), and a Doctorate in Education in Educational Leadership from Liberty University (VA). Dr. Pettigrew has been recognized as the Outstanding Music Major at Anderson University, a 2017 WYFF Golden Apple Award-winning teacher, and been nominated for the Grammy for Music Education
Dr. Alston Pettigrew's love of music was vital in the sequence of events that led to him meeting his wife Allison (Westside Class of 2008). Since their marriage in 2012, Alston and Allison Pettigrew have been blessed with three beautiful girls: Anna Claire (9) and Caroline (7), and Ava Grace (2).
As a product of Anderson School District Five, Dr. Alston Pettigrew is very excited to continue his work with the prestigious Westside High School Ram Band.
Phillip Ivester-Wood
Associate Director of Bands
Phillip Ivester-Wood is a Belton, SC native teaching his second year as the Director of Bands at Robert Anderson Middle School and Associate Director of Bands at Westside High School. During his time as band director, Mr. Ivester-Wood has led the Robert Anderson Band Program to tremendous growth, placed several students in the Anderson All-County and SC Region 1 Honor Bands, and scoring only Superior rankings at Solo & Ensemble. Prior to his band director placement, he served as the Director of Choral Activities at Robert Anderson for four years, where his choirs performed in several performances across the South Carolina Upstate and received a Superior rating at the SC Concert Performance Assessment (CPA) State Festival. In addition, Mr. Ivester-Wood served as the woodwind instructor for the Belton-Honea Path High School Marching Band for four years. He also served as the graduate conductor for the Valdosta State University Concert Choir, Men's Chorus, and Women's Chorus, where he studied conducting and music literacy under the direction of Dr. Carol Krueger. He has also been a member of numerous professional choirs, orchestras, wind ensembles, and jazz bands across both the South Carolina Upstate and South Georgia. Mr. Ivester-Wood also serves as coach for the RAMS Cadets Winter Guard team.
Mr. Ivester-Wood received his Bachelor of Arts in Saxophone and Voice Performance
from Erskine College in Due West, SC and his Master of Arts in Teaching from Valdosta State University in Valdosta, GA. He is currently living in Belton with his wonderful husband, Dan, and their energetic corgis, Ollie & Oakley.
Kyle Bruenning
Instructional Staff
Assistant Director of Percussion
Kyle Bruenning is an Anderson, SC native teaching as the music teacher for Concord Elementary School and Assistant Director of Percussion for Westside High School and Robert Anderson Middle School. He is also an alumnus of Westside High School.
Mr. Bruenning holds a Bachelors of Music Education and a Masters of Music Performance from Winthrop University. At Winthrop he was chosen to be the Presser Scholar, the top senior in the music department, and the Melle Beach Casey award, presented to a graduate student in music with a high level of achievement. In 2017, he performed at Carnegie hall with the Winthrop Wind Symphony. He is a founding member of the contemporary percussion group, Percussionisms, and has performed with them in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Massachusetts.
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Mr. Bruenning currently resides in Anderson, SC with his amazing wife, Amberly.
Jose Maduro
Brass Instructor
Jose Alfredo Maduro is a musician with a journey spanning over 15 years. During undergrad he found his place as the second chair in the intercollegiate honor band for two consecutive years and later he took the principal chair in his final year at the intercollegiate honor band in South Carolina. His musical journey has woven through diverse settings, from chamber orchestras to brass quintets, showcasing his dedication to brass ensembles.
In addition to his brass expertise, Mr. Maduro is a proficient pianist and bass player, adding depth to his musical palette. Presently, he serves as the principal tuba player for the GAMAC orchestra of Anderson, contributing his skills to the ensemble. Committed to nurturing musical talent, Mr. Maduro shares his knowledge by actively teaching in multiple schools across the upstate region.
Visual Staff
Brittany Loudermilk
Assistant Color Guard Director
Brittany Loudermilk is an Anderson, SC native and is teaching her sixth year as the Assistant Color Guard Director. Previously, Mrs. Loudermilk was a part of the Westside Color Guard from 2008-2011. Under her direction, the Westside Color Guard Program has expanded from to fall guard and two winter guard teams: Varsity and Cadets. In her short tenure, the Varsity Winter Guard has been promoted to the Scholastic AAA class in the Carolina Winter Ensemble Association circuit, has placed first in numerous competitions, and a high placement of fourth at CWEA Championships.
In addition, she also has been teaching math at Westside High since 2015. Mrs. Loudermilk received her Bachelors in Secondary Math Education from Lander University. She currently resides in Anderson, SC with her husband, Jon.
Emerson Green
Assistant Color Guard Instructor
Emerson Green is an Easley, SC native, teaching her third year as Assistant Color Guard Instructor for the Westside High School Color Guard. Prior to this, Ms. Green was apart of the Easley High Varsity Color Guard from 2013-2016, a member of the 2017 Clemson University Tiger Guard, performed in the 2018 show “Woodwork” for The District Presented by Étude Winter Guard, and the 2022 show “Love Me, Love Me Not” and 2023 show "It's About Time" for Toccata Independent. Previously, she has taught and written choreography for color guard teams at D.W. Daniel, Wren, and Powdersville High School.
Ms. Green recently received her Bachelors in Marketing from Clemson University in Clemson, SC this past December of 2021.