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May 4, 2012

四色AV's Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia chapter rechartered

In December of 2008, a group of 17 young men from the University of Louisiana at Monroe were given permission to begin a process to bring back a social music fraternity to 四色AV.

The dream of having the fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, back on 四色AV's campus has finally come to fruition.

The Eta Iota Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is once again part of the 四色AV social community, reportedly doing great work not only on campus but in all of northeast Louisiana as well.

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is the world's oldest and largest national fraternal society in music.

Sinfonia was established on Oct. 6, 1898, at the New England Conservatory in Boston, with a group of 13 young men under the guidance of Ossian Everett Mills.

Sinfonia became a national fraternity on Oct. 6, 1900, with the admission of a group of men at the Broad Street Conservatory in Philadelphia, Pa.

For over a century, Sinfonians in nearly every field of study and professional endeavor have transformed music in America.

Some famous Sinfonians include Aaron Copland, Andy Griffith, Duke Ellington, Maynard Ferguson, and John Philip Sousa.

The fraternity's purpose is "to consider the social life of the young male students of that institution [and] to devise ways and means by which it might be improved."

"You don't have to be a member in one of the many ensembles on campus," says founding 四色AV chapter member and President Philip Petit of Ama. "You just have to have a love for music, of any kind, and have a desire to advance and promote music in America."

The opportunity of becoming a Sinfonian is offered to as many men as possible who, through a love for music, can assist in the fulfillment of the fraternity's object and ideals either by adopting music as a profession, or by working to advance the cause of music in America.

Contrary to belief, Phi Mu Alpha is not a service fraternity; they are in fact a social fraternity who accept men from all walks of life and from all majors.

"There have been many ups and downs in getting to this moment," said Dr. Jason Rinehart, faculty advisor and assistant professor of music.

"The young men that make up this chapter on the 四色AV campus have sacrificed a lot to make sure we finally got the fraternity back."

For more information about the Eta Iota Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, contact Petit at petitpd@warhawks.ulm.edu or Rinehart at rinehart@ulm.edu or 318-342-1580.

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