Follow the Newest Fifers and Drummers ‘Through the Ranks’

It seems like you can hear The Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums coming from a mile away.

But the journey that produces the rousing music takes much longer.

The young people dressed in red regimentals who march down Duke of Gloucester Street have waited for years to be part of the stirring procession that guests enjoy in the Historic Area. Their music — and their discipline — represent years of commitment from them and from their families.

The Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums is so much more than music and marching. The principles that transform these young people into expert performers and interpreters also inform them as citizens. They are historically literate, civic-minded and aware of the role they play for their country and community.

Join us for an exclusive look behind the scenes of this iconic group. Through the Ranks is a multimedia exploration of the Fifes and Drums with a new installment posted here every two weeks.

We’ll follow a class of young recruits as they navigate the challenges that await them — from the early practice sessions to the uniform fittings to the very first march. You’ll hear experiences from budding fifers and drummers as well as those who’ve come through the ranks of this elite company. This interactive series let’s you participate too, by posting questions and encouragement.

So fall in with us next week as we step off to begin following The Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums Through the Ranks.

Ben Swenson lives in Williamsburg, Virginia with his wife and two sons. His writing career has led him to all sorts of odd corners of the world: he has jumped out of a perfectly good airplane, wrestled crab pots on a Chesapeake Bay work boat and taken a helicopter ride through a twisting river gorge. Odds are good you will find him outside with them somewhere when he is not chasing or telling stories.