The Story of Hanaford's

Hanaford’s Volunteers was founded by Gerd and Ruth Sommer to celebrate America’s Bicentennial. It is named after Captain Nathaniel Hanaford, a fifer and drum major in the War of 1812, who is buried in the Underhill Cemetery in Vermont. Since 1976, we have proudly carried the tradition of American field music to many parts of Vermont and New England.

In more recent years, our corp has grown in numbers, but not in height, as many of our members are young students eager to learn and train their musical talents. At the beginning of each year, our corps assembles a new standpiece of songs and maneuvers to master. Each standpiece is expertly crafted by our Lead Snare Drummer and Music Master, Josiah Raiche, who calculates all of the maneuvers for each song, as well as our Music Committee, who hand pick each song and medly to match a particular theme of music chosen for the year.

When the snow finally melts, our parade season soon follows, providing us the opportunity to share the music that we love with anyone with an ear to hear. Parades aren’t the only events we like to play at, however, as we participate in all sorts of events across New England and even a bit beyond. From fife and drum musters at historic sites, to the unveiling of the F-35 fighter jets at the Vermont Air National Guard base, we aim to serve our communities by sustaining and sharing the spirit of fife and drum wherever we can!

Though we have seen members come and go over the years, our corps is nothing less than family, and when you’ve joined the Hanafords family, you never truly leave.