All decked out in their new uniforms...the corps makes us proud!

October/November, 2002
On The Mountain Magazine

The Corps Comes to the Mountain!

By Doe Huff

There was a new entry at this year's Jamboree Days Parade in Crestline--The Mountain Fifes & Drums! What a patriotic sight to see, 30 young people marching down the street just as it has been done for two hundred years in Colonial Williamsburg, VA. This was a dream come true for Cindy Olson and Kevin Garland of Twin Peaks. This whole thing came about by chance, or perhaps it was fate that they would meet and create another page of mountain history.

Olson plays a flute and has been very active in Civil War reenactments. She is a member of the California Consolidated Fife & Drum Corps, the official Corps of the State performing at official state functions. She teaches piano and flute, and educates children through living history reenactments. Garland grew up in Williamsburg and was a member of the Williamsburg Fifes and Drums. He also worked in Colonial Williamsburg as a living historian. He has a degree in music and is a Certified Music Therapist. They both attend a local church but did not know each other until one day Cindy noticed Kevin drumming, and holding the sticks in the traditional style of the Fife & Drum. She tracked him down in October, 2001 and they discovered they both had a desire to create a corps on the mountain.

The Mountain Fifes & Drums strut their stuff in holiday parade!

When Olson and Garland began canvassing the community for interest, they ended up with a waiting list the first week. After their first performance in Crestline, they had their youngest member signed up--a 15-month-old whose parents wanted to make sure there would be a slot when he was old enough!

Their program and name is designed around the same profile as the one in Williamsburg. Members must be from fourth grade through high school and willing to learn 18th and 19th century martial music. They will progress through the ranks from Recruit to Sergeant Major. Each promotion has strict standards which must be met. For example, a Private must play 12 tunes and have knowledge of music interpretation. The ultimate goal is to provide scholarships based on performances, rank and community service.

The corps currently has 33 members. They march with 10 drummers and 20 fifers. Recruits with no prior music experience serve as flag bearers. Since Cindy and Kevin volunteer their time, the only cost to join the unit is $10 for a plastic fife or for sticks and a practice pad. Once members are promoted to Private they are entitled to purchase a rosewood fife or Virginia drummer sticks and a sling.

This small group met many challenges head on. They needed a place to practice, uniforms and drums, which cost $400. Parks and Rec came through allowing them to meet every Monday night at the Twin Peaks Senior Center. They held a community garage sale that raised more than $800, and received grants from the Arrowhead Arts Association and the Lake Arrowhead Rotary Club. In only 11 weeks, they raised more than $8,000. Cindy smiles as she remembers her living room lines with sewing machines as the mothers came together to sew the traditional costumes. "They weren't quite finished in time for their first parade so they wore T-shirts with their pants, socks and shoes," said Olson. "Now they have the traditional shirts, and waistcoats are on the cutting board."

Garland and Olson have grand plans for these young people. They hope to find their own building where they can practice whenever they please and a place to store their instruments and have a music library. They dream of marching in the Rose Parade and performing in Williamsburg which would fulfill a life's ambition for Cindy. In the meantime, be sure to catch them marching in the Blue Jay Holiday Parade. Just talking to these mountain folks made me even prouder to be an American!

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