The Staff

Four dedicated historical musicians with special expertise lead The Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums, working in concert to re-create the military unit called “fifes and drums” of the 18th century.

• Tim Sutphin is a native of Williamsburg, Va., who joined the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums at the age of 10. Participating in the 1981 march to Yorktown and performing for the 1983 Economic Summit in Williamsburg are among the memorable highlights of his years as a performer.

  Tim earned a bachelor’s degree in American History from East Tennessee State University and returned to the Fifes and Drums as an instructor in 1988. He assumed leadership of the young musicians in 1991. He is currently involved in school outreach programs teaching the importance of field music to students and serves as a clinician in 18th-century field music for other fife and drum corps throughout the nation.

• Lance Pedigo entered the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums in 1972 at the age of nine and graduated in 1981 as sergeant major. He received his bachelor's degree in music with a performance concentration from James Madison University. Lance has performed with Disney's All-American College Marching Band, the 1984 Summer Olympics All-American Marching Band, the 1984 Presidential Inaugural Band, and the All-American Statue of Liberty Band and has also performed throughout the United States, Japan, and Canada. He has recorded for Coastline Music and performed for National Public Radio. Lance currently performs with the early music ensemble Capriole and serves as a teambuilding facilitator and private teacher.

• Amy Laura Edmondson Miller is a native of Atlanta, Ga. She holds a bachelor's degree in music from Florida State University and a master's degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She earned a doctorate in music from Florida State University in flute performance.

  Amy came to Virginia in 1996 and began performing for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation as a colonial performer on baroque flute, recorder, and harpsichord. She became field music instructor on the fife for the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums in 1998 in preparation for girls being admitted to the program the following year. Today, Amy performs for The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and others and also teaches privately on modern and period instruments.

• Stewart Pittman was born in Williamsburg and joined the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums in 1990 as a snare drummer. During his time as a juvenile performer he played for notable individuals such as Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in 1993 and for the arrival and visit of Jiang Zemin, the Premier of China, in 1997. After his tenure as a performer with the Fifes and Drums, Stewart worked for nearly eight years as a military history interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg’s Public Magazine while attending nearby Christopher Newport University. In the summer of 2006, Stewart was hired as drum instructor for the Fifes and Drums and as an event coordinator for the department of Historic Area Events.

Listen to a "Behind the Scenes" Interview: Fife and Drum Major. A passion for the music and a love of history motivate Lance Pedigo to work with young people entering the Fifes and Drums of Colonial Williamsburg.

(MP3, 2.7Mb)

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