"To perpetuate the American Heritage of fife and drum music, encourage the development of young fifers and drummers, and promote a greater understanding and appreciation for the historical significance of the Lewis & Clark Expedition."
- Taken from the LCFDC By-Laws, 1992
Our History
The Lewis and Clark Fife and Drum Corps takes its name from the famous explorers Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, who along with the Corps of Discovery, spent five days in St. Charles in May of 1804 as they made final preparations for their expedition across the territory acquired in the Louisiana Purchase.
The Corps was founded in 1992 by the late John Dengler and the South Main Preservation Society as a way to share the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the history of the City of St. Charles.
The Corps members wear the dress uniform of field musicians and color guard from the 1st US Infantry during the period of 1804-1810. The bearskin-crested round hats are adorned with a deer tail, black leather cockade, and eagle. The red wool coats worn by our fifers and drummers sometimes cause them to be mistakenly identified as British "redcoats." Historically, field musicians wore coats made in the reverse colors than the infantry so that they could be easily distinguished on the battlefield. For this reason, our Color Guard wears blue coats with red trim, while our musicians wear red coats with blue trim.
In our history, the Lewis and Clark Fife and Drum Corps has performed all across the midwest and other places throughout our nation including Washington, D.C. and Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, and even as far as Ludwigsburg, Germany. They have performed at the US Army Ball, and many parades. They travel to and perform at several rendezvous, encampments, festivals, and living history events, and attend the Annual Midwest Conference of Fifes, Drums, and Pipes. They can be seen and heard throughout St. Charles and the surrounding area, particularly along Historic Main Street.
Meet our Instructors
Peter Bringe, Fife Instructor
Peter Bringe joined our corps back in the beginning of 2004 during the Bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. After being in our corps for over six years, he helped start the Western Plains Fife and Drum Corps in Elizabeth, Colorado. He became our fife instructor shortly after moving back to the St. Charles area and continues to perform fife with various historical units. In the past, he enjoyed the opportunity to regularly attend the Company of Fifers and Drummers' Junior Fife and Drum Camp and the Deep River Ancient Muster, both in Connecticut. During his time there, he became a certified instructor of "Core Technique and Exercises for Fife, Piccolo, Flute" by John J. Benoit. Peter also enjoys singing folk songs and playing other instruments, such as fiddle, guitar, Irish flute, penny whistle, and gaita gallega.
Connor Sotelo, Drum Instructor
Connor Sotelo became a member of the Louis and Clark fife and drum corps in 2014. He had played percussion in his grade school band for several years prior and through the years he continued to expand and develop his drumming skills with both the drum corp and his high school marching band. During his high school years, he led a successful young ensemble to many percussive arts awards during the marching band and winter guard seasons. He was awarded the position of drumline captain in his senior year and won an outstanding marching award from the school's band. Today, Connor is a student at St. Louis University and plays percussion in the St. Louis University pep band. Connor has been a member of the Great River Fife and Drum Corps since 2021 and a member of the 1812 Illinois Ranger Company B since 2019.
Janelle Stone-Heffner, Color Guard Instructor
Janelle Stone-Heffner joined the Lewis and Clark Fife and Drum Corps (LCFDC) during the summer of 2004 during the Bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the color guard position, where she contributed over the years by updating several of the section commands. After graduation in 2007, Janelle attended Webster University where she earned bachelor's degrees in education and American history. During that time, Janelle marched with and directed the Living History Reenactors Fife and Drum Corps, an all-adult corps that was based in St. Louis, MO. Janelle returned to LCFDC as an instructor in spring 2017 where she continues to share her passion for historical authenticity, marching technique, and military history. In addition to fife and drum, Janelle has been a reenactor of the French and Indian War time period for 20+ years and participates in living history events with her family and local groups.