Tempo! Comments

While the many chapter comment submissions prove that SAI is a thriving music organization, the cornucopia of material literally overflows from the pages of Tempo! Here, we provide the comments that couldn't fit in each issue of the SAI's national newsletter.

As always, comments should be sent to the appropriate editor:
Pam Prouty, Collegiate Editor | Kim Everett, Alumnae Editor

Tips for submissions (updated 3-07)
Deadlines and Contact Information (updated 3-07)

COLLEGIATE COMMENT

SIGMA DELTA
University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign
To welcome the Sigma Delta chapter back to campus, the Urbana alumnae chapter prepared a taco dinner at a nearby park. This event supported the chapter’s goal of increasing sociability between members. To further meet this goal, a Member of the Week is announced along with her answers to a survey. “Ultimate Friday” activities — such as attending jazz forums, guitar festivals, and television premieres — are also increasing camaraderie in the chapter. Fundraisers for the year include selling concessions at football games and selling cookbooks with recipes from Sigma Delta sisters.— Jennifer Nance, editor

PI
Drake University, Des Moines, IA
Highlights of the Spring 2007 semester included the initiation of nine new sisters and the Impact Project Grant program. Pi Chapter sisters chose a pirate theme and worked with students as they tried musical instruments and learned about rhythm, song, and dance. The day culminated with a performance for the parents. Fall activities included fundraising for VH1 Save the Music and the annual music formal in November. — Megan Rodgers, editor

ALPHA GAMMA
Muskingum College , New Concord , OH
Alpha Gamma welcomed five new members-in-training in a Jan. 31 ceremony. This semester will find seven seniors presenting recitals and several members preparing for the Muskingum College Wind and Percussion Ensemble tour to Nashville, TN.— Sarah Dwyer, editor

BETA LAMBDA
Valparaiso University, IN
Beta Lambda’s two service projects in the fall semester included adopting a family for Christmas and singing carols at the local hospital. Ten new members-in-training have joined the sisterhood. Several events are scheduled for the spring: the chapter’s bi-annual musicale on March 28; participation in “Songfest,” a campus-wide musical competition; and, a luncheon/tea to welcome the chapter’s newest patroness member, Professor Nina Corazzo, and to bid farewell to another, Dianne Harre, who will be leaving upon the retirement of her husband, Alan Harre, the current president of the University.— Danielle Pearce, editor

DELTA ETA
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff
The women of Delta Eta, along with Phi Mu Alpha, hosted a benefit recital for the Leupp Elementary School music program. The Leupp School is located on the Navajo reservation near Flagstaff . The music program on the reservation is strong; however, the lack of resources and finances has created limitations that have prevented the students from receiving an optimal experience. All proceeds were donated to the music program and will be used to help purchase sheet music, instruments/repairs, and music stands. Forty-five of the Leupp students attended the recital. Thanks to strong support from the local community, the holiday benefit recital was a great success.

Upcoming chapter events include hosting Omicron Province Day; the 3rd annual performance competition to promote excellence in music at the University; and, the annual spaghetti dinner, from which funds are earmarked to current needs in music programs throughout the Flagstaff community. — Beth Hermanson, president

DELTA MU
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Dr. Cynthia Folio, Associate Professor of Music Theory at Temple University and National Arts Associate, premiered the orchestral adaptation of her composition, “A Matter of Honor: A Portrait of Alexander Hamilton,’ at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center in Reading, PA, on September 28, 2007. Commissioned by Astral Artistic Services commemorating the 200th anniversary of Alexander Hamilton’s death, the piece was originally composed for an eight-person chamber ensemble. Temple’s orchestra conductor, Luis Biava, also a National Arts Associate, collaborated with Dr. Folio on the orchestration for the adaptation, which is a four-movement work focusing on the later part of Hamilton’s life. — Victoria Baker, editor

EPSILON EPSILON
West Chester University, PA
Epsilon Epsilon participated in several multi-chapter events in the fall semester. At initiation, sisters from Temple , Rowan, and the University of Delaware were in attendance. West Chester sisters then traveled to initiation ceremonies at Rowan and the University of Delaware , as well as an Incorporation Day celebration at Rowan on December 15. The chapter visited Barclay Friends Retirement Home to perform a concert in November and to sing Christmas carols in December. Also in December, the Epsilon Epsilon women visited West Chester Area Daycare and assisted students in exploring different musical sounds through an instrument petting zoo. — Heather Bostic, editor

EPSILON KAPPA
Louisiana Tech University, Ruston
Marissa McMath, Robbee Pillow, and Krystle Warren were initiated into the Epsilon Kappa sisterhood in February. Province Officer Nancy Vines conducted her official visit in January. A combination musicale/fundraiser with a Louisiana composer theme is planned for the spring quarter. — Gretchen Galschjodt, editor

ZETA ETA
West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon
The Zeta Eta ladies and the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia chapter have participated in several joint ventures, including a musicale, a trip to Valley Worlds of Fun, and a formal.— Catherine Loftis, editor

ETA THETA
Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC
Eta Theta gained three new members-in-training this spring. The chapter has also been working with the music program at Cherokee Elementary. Twice a week, members help the teacher, Maura Colvin, with her classes and have purchased a digital voice recorder and zip drive for her use. Upcoming spring events include a tri-fraternal musicale, participation in Relay for Life, and sponsoring a Girl Scout Day with classes in dance, crafts, and self-defense. — Kristen Cooper

THETA LAMBDA
Furman University, Greenville, SC
Four new members were welcomed into Theta Lambda in the fall, and another large class is anticipated for the spring. The chapter’s first benefit concert in March will aid Mary Mitchell Campbell’s orphanage, which she established through an organization titled ASTEP (Artists Striving To End Poverty). Several ensembles will be performing. The highlighted piece will be a premiere of Furman graduate Sarah Horick’s master’s thesis. This work combines winds, strings, percussion, and voice, featuring Furman vocal professors Tamara Matthews and Lisa Barksdale. All proceeds go to the orphanage, with the goal of providing a teacher to give music lessons to children for three weeks. — Katie Chapman, editor

IOTA THETA
University of North Texas, Denton
Iota Theta Chapter initiated eight new members in the fall of 2007. To promote sisterhood, members participated in a series of team-building exercises throughout the semester.— Hannah Ulbrich, editor/historian

KAPPA ALPHA
Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
The ladies of Kappa Alpha Chapter have focused on sisterhood and outreach this year. Additional social events, a Christmas toy drive, and a holiday concert for the patients at Virtua Hospital in Voorhees , NJ , helped to achieve those goals. Congratulations to new members Katie Litka and Deanna Palermo, who were initiated in the fall, and to Liz Maxfield, a transfer student from Eta Mu. Kappa Alpha member Samantha McLeod won the orchestral soloist competition. In March, the chapter will be initiating Dr. John Pastin as a National Arts Associate and Dr. Richard Dammers as a Friend of the Arts.— Alyssia Auerbach, editor; Rachel Klott, secretary

KAPPA GAMMA
University of North Carolina, Greensboro
In December, Kappa Gamma Chapter initiated six new members, as well as Dr. Kevin Geraldi and Dr. Elizabeth Keathley as National Arts Associates. Chapter members have been visiting the Crossnore School for displaced children to share music with the children who live there and offer them a firsthand experience about the power of music. — Johanna Wolf, editor

KAPPA KAPPA
Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA
The ladies of Kappa Kappa had a busy and exciting fall semester. For fundraisers, the chapter sold nachos and hot dogs on campus and held their second “It’s War Time” raffle of a gas card and tickets to the Bayou Classic battle of the bands. Several original pieces written by members of the chapter were performed during the Music Fraternity performance class. The big event of the semester was the blood drive held in DeBose Music Hall in November. The purpose of the drive was to help Dr. Patricia Martin, Associate Music Professor at Southern, and a world-renowned clarinetist and 2006 initiate of Kappa Kappa. Lastly, the chapter welcomed Ashton Clark, Jasmine Reine, Brandi James, LaDondra Bowles, Ashli Savoy , and Brittany Moore to the SAI sisterhood. — Tanaya Hutson, editor

KAPPA XI
Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
In an effort to reach out to their college community, the sisters of Kappa Xi, in collaboration with the Student Government Association, held a forum, titled “HIP HOP AIDS,” in December. Highlighted by public speaker Maria Davis, the forum focused on the effect urban music has on our culture, its sexual influence on youth, and its association with the unfortunately growing AIDS rate in the black community.

In an effort to reach out to the surrounding communities, chapter members visited public grade schools to jumpstart the revival of the “Musique Program.” Started by charter members of Kappa Xi, this program strives to assist public school music programs with training basic music theory and vocal and instrumental skills. Kappa Xi traveled to Forest Park High School of Woodbridge, VA, and Spring Street Middle School of Baltimore, where sisters participated in the school’s Christmas program. — Chelsey Green, editor

KAPPA OMEGA
Elmhurst College, IL
To raise funds for SAI Philanthropies, the women of Kappa Omega helped with gift wrapping at Borders Books in December. Also, as a social event, they went to Chicago ’s Awesome 80s Prom. — Monica Karpuk, editor

LAMBDA KAPPA
Alderson-Broaddus College, Philippi, WV
The very first membership recruitment parties for Lambda Kappa Chapter were held on January 29 and 30. The first night’s creative party was based on the theme “A Disney Princess Tea Party;” the second night was spent getting to know the seven potential new members-in-training. The women of Lambda Kappa are excited to be realizing their dream of building a sisterhood in Sigma Alpha Iota.— Kiersten Long, editor

SIGMA MU
Hillsdale College , MI
The women of Sigma Mu Chapter presented a Christmas concert for the campus and community. Included on the program was “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies” by the Hillsdale College Flute Choir; an original cello and bagpipe duet of “O Come, All Ye Faithful;” and two original choral pieces composed by chapter members Elsa Johnson and president Abby Portice. The men of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia joined Sigma Mu in singing “Silent Night” to conclude the program. — Leah Wild, editor

SIGMA OMICRON
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
To bring Christmas and musical cheer into the lives of others, the ladies of Sigma Omicron collaborated with the men of Phi Mu Alpha to present a musicale for the residents of Butterfield Trail Village , a retirement community in Fayetteville . Titled “A Christmas to Remember,” the program included traditional Christmas music, as well as “ America the Beautiful” and “Amazing Grace” in memory of Pearl Harbor . Two Sigma Omicron alumnae were in the audience and joined the chapter on stage to sing the “Chorale” and “So Near, So Dear.” — Meredith Hoberock, editor

SIGMA CHI
University of Miami, FL
The sisters of Sigma Chi completed a successful fundraiser by volunteering for “Festival Miami,” a month-long event hosted by the Frost School of Music. Approximately 25 concerts showcased international and local guest artists, and faculty and student ensembles. The chapter sold Symphony chocolate bars and bottled water before the shows and during intermission. Another fundraiser was the annual holiday Dessert Cabaret, where local establishments donated food for the audience while the sisters performed holiday classics and demonstrated a music therapy intervention. For a community service event, the Sigma Chi women provided holiday cheer at Miami Children’s Hospital, where they sang carols for the patients, families, and staff, and donated over 100 instruments from Oriental Trading Company. — Diana Le, editor

Alumnae Comment

Cleveland (OH)
The November meeting was held in a private room at Guarino’s Restaurant in Little Italy, which is Cleveland ’s oldest restaurant.  The Incorporation Day ritual was conducted before the dinner. The chapter sold Christmas greens for the annual winter fund raiser.  Beautiful sprays and wreaths graced many Cleveland area doors through this project. January’s meeting was a luncheon held on the Martin Luther King holiday at the home of Chris Birney. Our chapter will be hosting this year’s Sigma B Province Day with fellow alums, Barb Fieger and Bev Pancoast, serving as co-chairs of the event which will be held on Saturday, April 12.

Dallas (TX)
Last October, thirty-one members gathered in the home of former NVP-College Chapters, Marian M. King.  An all American Musicale was presented by soprano Karen McAdams accompanied by Cynthia DeVies, VP Membership. Highlighting the evening was the affiliation ceremony of seven new members. Our Silver Tea, which netted over $1,000, was held November 17 in the home of Karen Kimball, VP SAI Philanthropies, Inc. The featured harpist for the afternoon was Laura Logan. In January, Margery Anderson Clive, National Arts Associate, wowed us with her presentation of her one-woman show about Marian Anderson. Ten members journeyed to Marshall for the annual Province Day hosted by Eta Eta at East Texas Baptist University where Dr. Claire Rodgers was master of ceremonies. The afternoon musicale included vocal, piano, clarinet and flute performers. Ann Petty represented Dallas with Puccini’s “O mio babbino caro” and “Vissi d’arte.” All participated in the Friend of the Arts initiation of Dr. Bob E. Riley, long time president of the University.

Denton (TX)
On Sunday, October 21, we presented a unique and extraordinary Benefit Musicale featuring the Woodrow Wilson All-Star Choir. The chapter has been hosting this fundraising event for over forty years, and this was the first time for a choral group to perform. The musicale raised $1,138 for the Scholarship Fund. The choir was directed by Cecile Johnson, Friend of the Arts, with alumnae member Evelyn Barthold accompanying. The choir, founded in 1987, has earned several awards as an innovative group for commissioning more than thirty new works for children’s choir with grant monies provided by the school’s PTA. Mrs. Johnson has been recognized locally, regionally, and nationally for her excellence as a music educator. Last year’s scholarship winners were Haley Baldwin from Iota Omega (Texas Woman’s University) and Kristin Carr of Iota Theta ( University of North Texas ). Additionally chapter members collected $220 for a Christmas Service Project providing Christmas for a single mom with two daughters.

Detroit (MI)
Our December Holiday Luncheon was a huge hit. We also held our annual “Make It, Bake It, Sew It, Grow It” Silent Auction. Each member is asked to make, bake, sew, or grow something to donate, and then we hold several rounds of bidding for the items. We welcomed a new Patroness Member, Anne Grant (piano, clarinet, voice), into our Chapter in January. Anne comes to us from Madonna University . We are extremely excited to have her as part of our sisterhood. Our Special Projects committee has begun planning for our “Student Showcase” Recital to be held in April. Students are selected from chapter members’ studios or band/choir/orchestra students with each student performing a solo of choice.

East Bay (CA)
Barbara Vail, Diane Barton Brown, Ariel Witbeck, and Nancy Rude performed last October at the United Methodist Church in Walnut Creek . At the November musicale, Sondra Clark and Marsha Rocklin performed three of Sondra’s compositions. During the January meeting, at Nancy Rude’s home in Walnut Creek , members bought donated used books to raise money for the scholarship fund. Honorary Member and Swiss pianist Hanny Schmid Wyss was in concert on Februray 17 in Pleasant Hill performing music by Mozart, Schumann, and Bartok along with Robert Satterford, Decky Thornton, and Sharon Cuthbertson performing. The concert benefited the chapter’s scholarship fund. Kathryn McDaniel, who died December 6, 2007, was honored at a memorial service on January 20.

Evansville (IN)
The Evansville Alumnae Chapter began our year with a formal meeting on January. We were thrilled to affiliate two new members, Cindy Willis and Gloria Elder, into the Evansville Alumnae Chapter. Cindy was also initiated as a Patroness member. One of the highlights of the evening was a presentation by Daniel Craig who spoke about his recent travels to Ireland and shared his love of Irish Music. He performed several pieces on various Irish Pipes and percussion instruments unique to the Irish tunes. Dan is the Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Southern Indiana and was recently affiliated by our chapter as a Friend of the Arts. Our All-American Musicale, held on February 17, presented in partnership with the college chapter at University of Evansville with invitations to Phi Mu Alpha and local alumnae to join us this year. We are pleased to have several selections being performed by local middle school students from schools we have partnered with this past year. Our chapter spent time at these schools offering assistance with instrumental sectionals, music sorting, filing, and monetary support.

Fort Worth (TX)
We started this year by affiliating Kari Moore, initiating Rosalyn Story as Member Laureate, and enjoying performances by our Beta Kappa Scholarship winners Andrea Talladino and Stephanie Darbo. We met at Trinity Terrace, home to two of our Patronesses, with residents attending the program and reception. In November we met at a local music store and learned about copyrights and selecting music for UIL. Our annual Dinner with Friends in December was enchanting as Charles Duke, Friend of the Arts, presented his choir in a splendid performance. In January, we also initiated two Patronesses, Barbara Flynn and Beverly Sone Elbert (daughter of one of Beta Kappa’s original Patronesses). “Contests and Conventions” was the topic discussed by Don Hanna, past president of Texas Music Teachers Association (TMEA) and husband of our president Shirley Hanna. The 30,000 member TMEA has provided professional growth for music teachers and helped protect music programs throughout the state.

Iowa City (IA)
We kicked off this year with a get-to-know-you fiesta, followed by a “tailgate” party for the Iowa vs. Iowa State game. We also initiated three lovely women: Amy Semler, Barb Mayes, and Andie Jentz. October was a month of fundraising parties and ushering the Bob Dylan concert at the Carver Hawkeye Arena on campus. We enjoyed a night of great food and a Noises Off! show in November and a great Christmas party with the Zeta Epsilon chapter in December. Our final fundraising event was gift wrapping at a local mall for donations. Spring 2008 finds us planning for our biennial Dorothy T. McDonald Undergraduate Music Scholarship competition where we will award three top winners with $300, $200, and $100.

Kansas City (MO)
In October, the chapter presented the third annual Dinner Theater Fundraiser. The proceeds totaling $4,398.68 benefited the scholarship fund. At the November chapter meeting, Dixie Lou Morris, former NVP-College Extension, presented a program on the book Beethoven’s Hair: An Extraordinary Historical Odyssey and a Scientific Mystery Solved by Russell Martin. The book details the results of DNA testing that provided information about Beethoven’s health and afflictions. A holiday musicale was presented for the Bishop Spencer Retirement Community in December with a reception following hosted by the community. Charter member and resident, Marjorie Ounsworth, celebrated her 99 th birthday in December and received a certificate for 75 years of membership at a special reception.

Milwaukee (WI)
A memorial service for our deceased members Lea Olk, Annette De Boer, Ada Jones-Karrow, and Lorraine Kubitschek was held at our September business meeting. Oktoberfest was celebrated at Joan Swessel’s home.  German Dance Music was performed, and songs were sung in German. A Girl Scout project held in November resulted in forty-eight girls earning their music badges. For our holiday meeting, we attended the Madrigal Dessert Concert at Mount Mary College in Wauwatosa directed by our own Martha Stoner. A member of SAI, friend of our chapter, and resident San Camillo in Wauwatosa , Alice Schmidt, was featured in The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel playing the piano. She is a descendent of Franz Gruber, composer of “Silent Night,” and is 95 years young.

Minneapolis-St. Paul (MN)
At our October meeting, pianist Rebecca Shockley, harpist Kitty Eliason, and soprano Linh Kauffman, an SAI who won first place in the Voices of Vienna scholarship auditions, performed. In November, our “SAI Round-up,” a public recital and get-together, took place at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in St. Paul . For the December meeting, we traveled to the senior residence of Ann Schrader to offer a musicale and a chance to socialize. At our January jazz festival, SAI Patroness Martha Mathewson and her husband, Dana, who have moved to the Twin Cities after careers in New York that included playing for Broadway shows, presented improvisational jazz for piano and clarinet. Later that month, members gave Viola Nolan, an 81-year member, roses and a card in honor of her 100 th birthday.

Northern New Jersey
Northern New Jersey Alumnae Chapter had a fruitful 2007. Members hosted the Phi A Province Gathering held at Kean University in April. Doris Bry-Nildsen was awarded the Rose of Constancy. A recital of church organists took lace for the benefit of Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation. The annual Founders’ Day Celebration took place at the home of Cynthia Mizeski. Theta Upsilon charter member Mary Ann Corso was affiliated along with Patroness Fotini Babwasingh. The chapter bid farewell to Friend
of the Arts Evelyn Green, who, with Beverly Sills, was a protégé of Estelle Liebling.

Northwest Ohio (OH)
SAI sister Teresa Linares and guest Becky Miller presented a Musicale at the September meeting performing piano music by Bizet and Debussy for four hands. Our chapter assisted in commissioning a work by securing a Philanthropies Grant for Karen Thornton Biscay, Lourdes College Assistant Professor of Music & Music Department Chair, to commemorate the 50 th Anniversary Celebration of Lourdes College in Sylvania , OH , on January 13. Ryan Nowlin’s “A Golden Celebration” served as the processional for the entrance of liturgy participants, executive council members, and the board of trustees. The sound was most regal as the “Tower Brass Quintet” and composer Randy Currie, a Friend of the Arts, played the organ. Currie worked “Song of Lourdes” and three other traditional hymns, special to the Sisters of St. Francis, into a noble fabric alternating homophonic and polyphonic textures. Composer Randy Currie’s commissioned work “Laudation” was premiered as the Communion Reflection for chorus, organ, and oboe obbligato.

Orlando (FL)
“Love is in the air!” seems to be this year’s theme for our chapter as a number of our members were engaged or married. Our first meeting in September for our fifty-first year featured a program by Una Redwine on the late Beverly Sills’ “Manon,” and the October meeting featured a clarinet solo performed by Kelly Hood. The Incorporation Day Luncheon was held at the Olive Garden in Winter Park . In January, we met at Sharon Short’s home to affiliate Kelly Hood and make plans for our February Scholarship Concert on February 17. The concert benefited our chapters at nearby University of Central Florida and Rollins College .

Pasadena (CA)
The chapter held its first meeting of the season on Saturday, October 20, 2007, and welcomed Province Officer Edie Marshall, who presented President Helen Taylor with the Delta A Alumnae Chapter Achievement Award. Performing on the Musicale were Jacqueline Stong (oboe), Jo Ann Haycraft (piano), Paula Kuhr (violin), Helen Taylor (cello), Barbara Ebert (piano), and Denise Sonke (soprano). Shirley Boucher and Mary Jane Van Amringe, duo-pianists, joined the performers when the program was repeated on November 11 at the Pasadena Central Library as part of the Second Sunday Concert Series, which was organized in 1983 by our late chapter member Lillias Gilbert Jones. At the January 2008 meeting, a memorial service and Musicale was held for May Desmond, a devoted member of SAI. Another memorial service in May will honor Bernice Massey.

Pittsburgh (PA)
The chapter's outreach program presented a winter musicale with the Alpha Mu chapter of Carnegie Mellon University for St. Barnabus Retirement Village on December 1, 2007. The SAI Chorale was sung and various works were performed ending with a Christmas Carol Sing-a-long. Special performances by our members include Susan Sands conducting the East Winds Symphonic Band and the Franklin Middle School . Margaret Ross Mehl and her Chatham College Glee Club performed at the Carnegie Pittsburgh. Member Laura Burky and Husband Ken (flute and piano, respectively) presented a program in Providence Heights on October 21 along with a recital at Trombino Piano Gallerie on January 10. Resident Honorary Member composer Nancy Galbraith had her Sacred Songs and Interludes introduced by the Pittsburgh Camerata. Anne Martindale Williams, principal cellist for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, was featured in an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

Pontchartrain Alumnae Chapter (MI)
Members hosted a Joint Musicale with Detroit Alumnae on October 7 at the Prince of Glory Lutheran Church in Madison Heights .  Irene Kinsey-Stare, longtime patroness, was awarded the new Sapphire Sword of Honor in her home in Wellesley , MA , on October 19. Judy and Dave Culler took Irene greetings and roses from Pontchartrain members.  After lunch, Judy performed the surprise ritual presentation and pinned the Sword of Honor on her.  Irene, an accomplished violinist, hosted many musicales for Delta and Pontchartrain Chapters in the past, and she has been most generous in supporting SAI financially. Province Officer Jennifer Ross visited the chapter meeting and musicale on November 11.  On December 15, members and guests enjoyed their Annual Holiday Luncheon at the Western Golf and Country Club. 

Rockford (IL)
Our chapter ended the year with a most inspiring Incorporation Day Ritual and a musicale of outstanding quality sung by two Rockford College students, whose professor of voice is our own Martha Dahlberg. On the agenda is our annual get-together with Beta Mu Chapter at Northern Illinois University , participation in State Day on Feb. 16 on the Illinois Wesleyan University Campus, and presentation our annual local high school awards. This list plus our monthly musicales and our Women’s month gift to a regional library will keep the SAI colors flying high in Rockford this spring.

Tulsa (OK)
Zeta A Province Day was hosted by our chapter at the University Methodist Church. Initiation of three new Sigma Gamma members highlighted the morning session. Our luncheon speaker, Karen Kimball, VP of SAI Philanthropies, brought words of encouragement as well as education. Attendees learned of plans for the construction of a new School of Music building on the University of Tulsa campus from Dr. Joseph Rivers, director of the music department and a National Arts Associate. During the Convention of the Oklahoma Music Educators Association, chapter members volunteered at an informational booth during the three-day event. Dr. Marilyn Carver and Sandra Hayes chaired the committee. In April, James Cohn, National Arts Associate, will be honored on the occasion of his 80 th birthday with a concert of his compositions at the Santa Clara University in California . Major financial support for the concert will be provided by our chapter. Mr. Cohn was the honored Composer/Judge at the 2006 SAI National Convention.

Winchester (VA)
For our first service project in the fall, the chapter assembled goodie bags to give to the college SAI members in our province, letting them know that their alumnae sisters are available for support. In an ongoing project, we bring food donations to every chapter meeting which are then delivered to the local food bank. Around the holidays, the chapter bought gifts for a needy child, and, in February, the chapter offered a small grant to a local school music program. For fundraising, we held a “Tastefully Simple” party where members and guests could sample foods and order products. In November, we started an online magazine sales program. We also have an ongoing chapter fundraising partnership with a local cosmetics representative. Other events this year included a Living American Composers musicale where every member participated and a scrap-booking party to update the chapter history.