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Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps to Perform at Southern Miss

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 10:36am | By: Mike Lopinto

The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps perform at the White House. (Submitted photo)

The School of Music at The University of Southern Mississippi will host percussion members of the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps for a noontime performance on Monday, March 5 on the Hattiesburg campus.

The midday concert will take place on the Centennial Green (map) adjacent to the Aubrey K. Lucas Administration Building. That evening, local percussionists are invited to join the corps for a clinic in room 009 of the Mannoni Performing Arts Center. Both events are free.

The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps is the only unit of its kind in the armed forces and is part of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). The Fife and Drum Corps is stationed at Fort Myer, Va.

“We are particularly excited to have this prestigious group on campus because it includes Southern Miss music alumnus, Scott Jamison,” said Dr. Michael Miles, director of the School of Music. “This is a great opportunity for our community and for our students on campus and in the area to work with musicians of this caliber.”

As one of the United States Army's premier musical organizations, the Corps has inspired audiences throughout the nation and abroad for 50 years. Founded on Feb. 23, 1960, the men and women of the Corps proudly carry on traditions that accompanied the birth of this country. To see the unit is to experience history come alive - a proud tradition that began with the musicians of the Continental Army and continues today.

The musicians of this unit recall the days of the American Revolution as they perform in uniforms patterned after those worn by the musicians of Gen. George Washington's Continental Army. Military musicians of the period wore the reverse colors of the regiments to which they were assigned. The uniforms worn by the members of the Corps are dated circa 1781, and consist of black tricorn hats, white wigs, waistcoats, colonial coveralls, and red regimental coats.

As an official representative of the U.S. Army, the Corps averages approximately 500 performances annually. The Corps has entertained millions of people in major parades, pageants and historical celebrations throughout the United States; and has served America as a goodwill ambassador as far away as Europe, Australia and Canada.

Major sporting events at which the Corps has performed include NCAA bowl games, NBA games, NFL games including Super Bowl XVI, the Kentucky Derby, the Indianapolis 500, and the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid NY.

For more information, please visit www.usm.edu/music or call 601.266.5620.