Billy White has nearly 40 years of experience as a performing musician. Twenty-five of those year were spent in the U.S. Army as a member and leader of The U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.

 

Billy began learning to play the fife from his father at age seven and was later a member of The Fifes and Drums of Colonial Williamsburg.  He studied concert flute with Francile Bilyeu at Virginia Commonwealth University and Carol K. Noe at James Madison University as well as studying baroque flute with Herbert Watson at Colonial Williamsburg.  In addition to performing in The Fifes and Drums of Colonial Williamsburg and The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, Billy has been a guest performer with numerous ensembles including The Baltimore Symphony and The U.S. Army Band, Pershing’s Own.   He was a tavern performer and balladeer at Colonial Williamsburg, a founding member of the Celtic band Edsall Road, The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps’ Baroque Flute Ensemble, and the modern fife ensemble Confluence.  He can be heard on numerous recordings including “A Long Time Coming”, “Tank’s Travels” by Edsall Road, and “Throw Another Fife on the Fire” by Confluence.

 

For the last decade, Billy has been Drum Major, Operations Sergeant, and Corps Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.  During this period, his focus has shifted to primarily leadership, performance management and long-term project development.  This period saw the return of The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps to the international stage with performances at the Norwegian Military Tattoo, Virginia International Tattoo, Basel Tattoo and Fortissimo Tattoo. 

 

Billy has a Bachelor of Arts in American Literature from George Mason University, a Master of Arts in American History from American Military University and is a graduate of the US Army Sergeants Major Academy.