Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums
The Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums, also known as the Field Music of the Virginia State Garrison Regiment, is the host organization of the annual Drummers Call at Colonial Williamsburg held each May. Since 1958, visitors to The Revolutionary City in the Historic Area at Colonial Williamsburg have enjoyed the musical performances and experienced the history of America’s Revolution provided by the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums.
Colonial Williamsburg’s field musicians are drawn from a waiting list of young community applicants. Boys and girls begin their education in military music at age 10 and practice weekly for the next eight years, until after they have graduated from high school. These young people talk with the public about the role of music in the 18th-century military. They teach younger members the music and history lessons needed to continue the tradition of the field musicians.
The Fifes and Drums appear in more than 700 performances each year. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is justifiably proud of each of these truly remarkable young Americans, past and present. They have come to symbolize what is best about our community, our history, and our museum.