By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
It was 16 years ago that the Mountain Fifes & Drums Corps first presented its Colonial Christmas concert.
“When we first did this concert and show in 2007,” asked Director Joy Hatch, “who would have thought we’d still be performing Kevin Garland’s play 16 years later? It has stood the test of time, is entertaining and still has historical validity. Thank you to all in the community who have supported us over these years.”
The Mountain Fifes & Drums Corps presented its annual Colonial Christmas concert, “George Washington’s Mount Vernon Homecoming,” at the San Moritz Lodge in Crestline on Sunday evening, Dec. 10.
The historical play – created by founder Kevin Garland – features speeches and historical reenactments, including the speech Washington gave to his troops before returning to his home at Mt. Vernon at the end of the Revolutionary War.
Members of the Mountain Fifes & Drums Corps performed music of George Washington’s time at their annual Colonial Christmas concert. (Photos by Rhea-Frances Tetley)
“This interactive reenactment of this historic event is quite enjoyable,” said Crestline resident Gracie Bloom, who was seeing the show for the first time. “It was a unique evening and I didn’t feel like I was at an event in the Southern California mountains; it really had an East Coast colonial feel and I felt taken back in time. It was a wonderful way to begin my holiday season and I am so glad I went. I am looking forward to seeing it again next year and I hope to dance the Virginia Reel with the musicians again. That was unexpected fun! I never imagined I’d ever be singing Christmas carols to the music of the fifes and drums.”
Some families have made this unique concert an annual event, which starts their holiday season.
“That interactive concert is quite an experience,” added John Green. “They look so official in their colonial-style uniforms. Here in California, we do not get to experience much of American colonial history, so this was unique. I’ve always enjoyed seeing them perform locally in the parades, like last week in the Blue Jay parade.”
The play demonstrates how the Revolutionary War affected George Washington and how happy he was after the war was over to be able to return home to Mount Vernon and Martha and the children in time for Christmas. Many songs are performed during the play.
This year, the speaking roles during the play portion featured Rob Pellenoini as the narrator, Nole Lily as George Washington, Scott Wilhite read the Declaration of Independence, Mark Gilliland was the British soldier, Scott Wilhite performed as President Mifflin and Ozzy Ward was Washington’s page.
Six drummers from the Mountain Fifes & Drums Corps performed, with four blue fifers and three red fifers from the senior corps.
There are several spots during the program where the audience is actively involved in the concert. Some of the audience members and families of the corps members come dressed in colonial costumes. Each of the 13 colonies has a flag to represent it hanging from the balconies, and each table in the room is labeled as one of the colonies; when called out, each colony responds with a cheer or huzzah! The concert serves food incorporated within the story line at various breaks in the music, plus the corps members dance the Virginia Reel with members of the audience members.
Historically, communications during the American Revolutionary War were done through the use of fifes and drums, so they were instrumental in the successful coordination of American forces during that war, helping them to win the war.
As one of the few colonial-style fifes and drum corps in California, using rope tensioned drums and wooden fifes, the Mountain Fifes & Drums Corps brings that legitimate East Coast colonial feel to the area when they perform.
The Mountain Fifes & Drums Corps is a local treasure for youth 10 to 18 years of age, who learn about music, history, leadership and responsibility, while learning to perform in public. Their unique skills and historical accuracy are respected, and they have previously been invited to perform at locations nationwide, including historical Williamsburg, the leading Revolutionary War reenactment community, winning many of their competitions.
The students who performed speaking parts during this year’s performance were North Lily, Rylan Pellenoini, Mary Guerrero, Abby Postiff, Gibson Postiff and founder Kevin Garland’s son, Jayden Garland, who was spectacular running around yelling about the end of the war. Huzzah!
The Mountain Fifes & Drums Corps is a 501(c)(3) free youth music program founded in 2001. Students are eligible to join after they complete fourth grade. Most who join stay involved through the entire eight years of the program. No musical skills are required to join. More information about the fifes and drums program can be found at their website, www.fifesanddrums.org.
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