Mount Kisco Fire Department
Ancient Fife & Drum Corps
Mount Kisco, New York
The Mount Kisco Fire Department Ancient Fife & Drum Corps was organized in 1937. Only members of the department were allowed to join until the corps was reorganized in 1967.
In the mid 1980's, the corps suffered from dwindling membership. In 1989, the last remaining members (Bob & Linda Hunter, Ann Boles, Ellen Stewart, Linda Duffy, Kevin Reilly, Thor Johannessen & Bill Stewart) decided to reorganize. Since then, the corps has gotten larger and stronger year by year.
The Ancients are fortunate and very proud to own the largest known complete set of Moeller Drums, consisting of nine snare and three bass. The drums were handcrafted by Gus Moeller specifically for the Ancients, and no two Indian figures are alike. The drums were delivered to the Ancients between 1950-1953 and were recently refurbished in 1990.
Highlights in the Mt. Kisco Ancients History Include the following performances and honors:
1939 World's Fair - Queens, NY
1974 Old Guard Muster - Washington, D.C.
1975 Mt. Kisco Muster - Village Incorporation
1975 Braniff Airlines Tour of America with the Bicentennial Aircraft "Flying Colors", painted by Alexander Calder. Performances held in New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Detroit, Chicago, Kansas City and Dallas
1978 Deerborn Michigan - muster at the Henry Ford Museum in Greenfield Village
1991 Lewisburg, West Virginia - Muster
1994 "Good Day New York" - The instructors appeared on the popular Fox TV program broadcast from Phillipsburg Manor, Tarrytown, NY
1995 Melbourne, FL - Muster hosted by Challenger Fife & Drum Corps and a performance at Kennedy Space Center
1997 NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade - First appearance in this famous parade led to a second place trophy in the Best Senior Fife & Drum class
The Ancients are also members of the Company of Fifers and Drummers whose purpose is to catalog and archive the music and history of fifing & drumming.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
Registration for the Ancients is held every September and is open to children in the fourth grade and up. No prior musical experience is necessary. Rehearsals are held on Wednesday nights, September through May, from 7-9pm. There is a $10 registration fee which includes an instrument.
1997 REGISTRATION DATE:
Wednesday September 17th at the Mount Kisco Elementary School West Hyatt Avenue, Mount Kisco, NY. 7:30pm in the large cafeteria
Click here for more information or to E-Mail the Mt. Kisco Ancients: mkancients@fifedrum.org
Click here for an index and information on other Fife & Drum Corps around the country: FifeandDrum.com