Beginning his fife and drum career in January 1999 as a re-enactor with Historical Impressions of America, Inc., a group based in eastern Pennsylvania, Donald Heminitz has had no formal instructor on the fife and is a self-taught fifer. His only lessons on the instrument were during occasional Civil War events from older and better fifers. However, in June 2002, he attended the Eastern Field Music School (now the Don Hubbard Field Music School), at Fort Delaware and enjoyed it so much he returned the following year. He returned for a third time in April 2004, when during the final formation, he was awarded the "Most Improved Fifer" Award. In July of that year, Donald was finally exposed to the “fife and drum world,” when he met the fifers and drummers of the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums, and from them received several tips on the fife. He was further exposed that December, when he met the members of the Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes and Drums during the annual Grand Illumination celebration in Williamsburg. Then in August 2005, he attended his first fife and drum muster at Fort Ticonderoga with the 3rd New Jersey Field Music. His fife skills were later tested by George Carroll in June 2006 at Fort Delaware and he was given the title Master Fifer. Less than a month later on July 4th, the 3rd New Jersey performed live at Times Square in New York City on Good Morning America. He then attended the Juniors' Workshop, hosted by the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps (FDC) at Fort Myer, Va during the first weekend of October. In January 2007, Donald published a book of duets and trios arranged by himself under the title "Martial Music for the Fife." Later that year he participated with the Colonial Musketeers Senior Ancient FDC at the annual Deep River muster in Connecticut. In January 2008, Donald won first place in the national Baconworks Tune-smithing Contest with his original tune "Misty Morning," and in June, he participated with the Colonial Musketeers Srs in the New Jersey State Fife and Drum Competition and as an individual took first place as senior male fifer. Currently, Donald is a fifer with the 3rd NJ, the Mifflin Guard Field Music, and the Colonial Musketeers Srs. He also plays with the McClellan Rangers FDC, the 2nd Maryland Fifes and Drums, and of course anyone that he finds at Civil War events or jam sessions! He is also the fife instructor for the BSA Troop 53 FDC of Maytown, Pa. Outside of re-enacting and fife and drum, Donald is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in music with concentration on the flute at Millersville University of Pennsylvania. There he is a member of the flute choir and concert band. At home he occasionally performs with the Flutations Flute Choir of Allentown.
For any questions or comments, Donald can be reached at dhfifenheimer@aol.com
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