About

Originally formed in 1971, Voyageur Ancient Fife and Drum Corps preserves history and builds leadership skills, confidence and community connection for youth musicians. The Corps continues to perform at reenactment events, keeping the history of America alive.

The Corps was the first Junior Corps in the Midwestern United States, and it continues to raise up new fifers and drummers to this day.

The Corps provides a supportive environment for those who are interested in a history-focused performing music group. Students can come with limited music knowledge to learn from peers and adults how to play their instrument, how to march in formation, and how to communicate with the public about the history of the Voyageurs and fifing and drumming.

As students progress, they take on leadership roles in the Corps, teaching and leading other members during practices and performances.

In addition to the historical music and leadership experience, the children represent their community through living history festivals like the Feast of the Hunter’s Moon, from Vincennes to Mississinewa 1812 to Fort Wayne. The Voyageurs have been a highlight of these festivals for over 50 years, inspiring both young and old alike as they connect history to the present day through the language of music. They perform for large crowds at numerous shows and cultivate a love of history and art. The children memorize all the music, march and respond to commands in French, and learn what it means to be part of a historical musical community.

Through their hard work and dedication, the children bring history to life in an experiential way that is accessible to all.

The Corps members dress in handcrafted uniforms modeled after the French Canadian fur traders who traveled down the Wabash River to trade with Indigenous peoples near Fort Ouiatenon.

The Corps members play period accurate fifes and drums, bringing history to life through the same sounds as heard in America in the 1700s. The students learn traditional fife and drum songs from the era, songs passed down for generations and still played across the country.

At the Voyageur Ancient Fife and Drum Corps, community service is at the heart of what we do. Our students don’t just perform—they teach, lead, and give back. This year alone, Voyageur students have volunteered over 130 hours, including 82 hours providing hands-on music instruction to other youth in the Lafayette area. Through these experiences, our students grow as leaders, mentors, and ambassadors of living history.

But it’s not just the students—Voyageur families are vital partners in sustaining our mission. Families participate in fundraising events, including collaborations with Levy Concessions and Purdue University, to support scholarships, uniforms, instruments, and programs that keep music education accessible to every child. By volunteering their time and energy, they help ensure that the Voyageur experience continues to enrich the lives of youth and strengthen our community through music and history. In 2025, Voyageur Families volunteered more than 920 hours!

Together, our students and families make it possible for the Voyageur Ancient Fife and Drum Corps to carry forward a legacy of leadership, service, and living history—one performance, one lesson, and one community project at a time.