Phi Mu Alpha Founder's Day 2022 On October 6, 1898, our beloved Sinfonia was founded at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Since then, we have grown to nearly 126,000 living members and 231 chapters. Today, we have a greater knowledge of our history, our symbols, and the traditions that have been [...]Read More...

All current listed collegiate members have been charged $82.00 for the Fall 2022 National per Capita Taxes and Fees in accordance with the National Constitution & Bylaws. Any accounts that were in arrears from Spring 2022 have been assessed a $15 Late Fee. Brothers may begin paying their financial obligation for Fall 2022 directly through [...]Read More...

Hail, Brothers! I remain energized from the fellowship with so many enthusiastic Brothers at our National Convention in St. Louis! We had the increasingly rare collective opportunity to experience Brotherhood, create memories, and make beautiful music. The overall goal of this triennium is to build upon that enthusiasm to foster trust, refine our infrastructure, and [...]Read More...

The National Headquarters of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America has been informed that some Brothers are experiencing COVID-19-related symptoms and/or have tested positive for COVID-19 following the recently concluded 57th National Convention held in St. Louis, MO. As a result, all Brothers who attended the Convention should be made aware so that necessary [...]Read More...

Brothers who intend to run for election to a National Office at the 57th National Convention were encouraged to declare their intent formally by June 30, 2022, by submitting a Candidacy Declaration Form. The declaration only provides notice of intent to run for election to a declared office. Each declared candidate must first be formally [...]Read More...

At the upcoming 57th National Convention, the voting body will elect a new National President, National Vice President, Committeeman-at-Large (3-Year Term), Committeeman-at-Large (6-Year Term), and a National Collegiate Representative. Due to the unusual circumstances that prevent us from having an Official Nominating Committee, we ask that all Brothers who intend to run for office to [...]Read More...

On March 22, 2022, Wright State University announced the creation of the School of Fine and Performing Arts, the first school to be named from the recent reorganization of the liberal arts programs. A week later, the university announced that Brother Daniel Zehringer (Iota Omicron Chapter - 1991) will become the inaugural chair of this [...]Read More...

Congratulations to Brother Mark Bonner (Theta Rho Chapter - 2011) on his recent appointment as the Director of Athletic Bands and Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Central Missouri! "I am excited to join the Marching Mules and their community of amazing students, faculty, and alumni to foster the highest level of musicianship [...]Read More...

Congratulations to Brother Robert Istad (Zeta Beta Chapter - Augustana College - 1994) on winning a Grammy for Best Choral Performance during the 64th Annual Grammy Awards! He won this award alongside a team of conductors and chorus masters for their recording of “Mahler: Symphony No. 8, “Symphony Of A Thousand.” "Symphony Of A Thousand" [...]Read More...

Last year, Yamaha launched the "40 Under 40" music education advocacy program to celebrate and recognize outstanding music educators who are making a difference by growing and strengthening their music programs. These remarkable teachers share the joy and power of music-making with their students who range from transitional kindergarteners to college undergrads.   We are proud [...]Read More...

Congratulations to Brother Joseph Jefferson, who was recognized on January 6, 2022, by the Jazz Education Network with the Ellis Marsalis, Jr. Jazz Educator of the Year Award. This award, named after Brother Ellis Marsallis, Jr. (Delta Epsilon Chapter - 1965), recognizes an outstanding collegiate or university educator with a focus on jazz education, who [...]Read More...

Congratulations to Brother John McClain (Epsilon Phi Chapter - 2011) on being named Ohio Music Education Association's Outstanding Young Music Educator of the Year! This award recognizes a music teacher who goes beyond the normal teaching duties in promoting music education and the arts in their school system, community, region, and/or state. After graduating from [...]Read More...

Phi Mu Alpha's National President, Mark Lichtenberg, has extended early registration pricing for the 57th National Convention one extra month. The new early registration deadline is now April 1, 2022. This change is in light of the pending National Council vote to alter the voting body, known as the National Assembly, for the upcoming National [...]Read More...

Congratulations to Brother JaRod Hall (Gamma Theta Chapter - 2012) on being named the winner of the Buehlman Prize for Composition! Brother Hall's piece, "Through the Storm," will be premiered by a 2022 performing ensemble at the 76th Midwest Clinic.  JaRod is a Texas-native educator, performer, and composer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music [...]Read More...

Stay Where The Convention Action Is Happening Brothers planning to attend the 57th National Convention can now book their room at the Hyatt Regency at the Arch in downtown St. Louis. Staying at the Official Convention Hotel helps to ensure the best possible experience while attending National Convention. Convention Registrants get access to our specially [...]Read More...

During its 75th Annual State Conference, the Wyoming Music Educators Association named Brother Brian Redmond (Beta Sigma Chapter - 2003) the 2022 Music Educator of the Year. The purpose of this award is to recognize and honor a WMEA member for excellence in music education. The award is made to individuals who have served their [...]Read More...

Brother Brandon West will join the University of Virginia Faculty as the new Assistant Director of Bands and as a Marching Percussion Instructor. After graduating from Grays Creek High School, Brandon enrolled at the University of North Carolina - Pembroke, where he received his Bachelors in Music Education. In 2013, Brother West was initiated into [...]Read More...

On January 3, 2022, Brother Mike Nicholson (Sigma Alpha Chapter - University of Massachusetts-Amherst - 2013) was sworn in for his second term as the Mayor of Gardner, Massachusetts. Brother Nicholson was first elected in June 2020 as part of a special election in which he received 70% of the votes cast. He hopes that [...]Read More...

The Nebraska Music Education Association Outstanding Young Music Educator Award is given in recognition of outstanding promise in the field of music education. Congratulations to Brother Frank Stroup on being named the 2021 recipient of this award! Frank enrolled at the University of Nebraska Lincoln in 2010, where he received his Bachelors of Music Education [...]Read More...

All current listed collegiate members have been charged $82.00 for the Spring 2022 National per Capita Taxes and Fees in accordance with the National Constitution & Bylaws. Any accounts that were in arrears from Fall 2021 have been assessed a $15 Late Fee. Brothers may begin paying their financial obligation for Spring 2022 directly through [...]Read More...

Congratulations to Brother Leo Williams on his recent election to the Durham City Council in North Carolina. As a local small-business owner, Brother Williams hopes to translate first-hand entrepreneurial experience into positive change and greater prosperity for the Durham community. In 2006, Leo was initiated into Phi Mu Alpha by the Rho Beta Chapter at [...]Read More...

Congratulations to Brother Rudy Currence (Zeta Rho Chapter - Fisk University - 2014) on being recognized by the city of Greenville, South Carolina! On November 27, 2021, Councilwoman Lillian Brock Flemming presented Brother Currence with the Key, recognizing him as a friend of the city. Rudy is an award-winning singer, Grammy Nominated songwriter, and Grammy [...]Read More...

Congratulations to Dr. Joseph Missal on his recent induction to the Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society Hall of Fame! Although he didn’t graduate from Oklahoma State University, he served as the director of bands and regents professor of conducting there for 35 years before retiring last spring.   Brother Missal earned his bachelor’s degree in [...]Read More...

We are excited to return to Chicago, Illinois this December for the upcoming 75th Annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. Barring any state or city mandates, the clinic is planned to be held in person from December 15-18, 2021.  We are also looking forward to seeing the high number of Brothers who are presenting, performing, [...]Read More...

On Giving Tuesday, the Sinfonia Educational Foundation kicked off an end-of-year goal, seeking to raise $100,000 by December 31, 2021, for the SEF General Fund. This marked the SEF’s first-ever appeal launched on Giving Tuesday, which happened to fall this year on the 67th anniversary of the creation of our Foundation. We know that many [...]Read More...

Sinfonia’s National Convention is the premier event of the Fraternity, and you and your family are invited! Our National Conventions are a celebration of Brotherhood, an opportunity for education and personal development, a time to recognize Sinfonians who have achieved prominence, and to make music together. July 20-24, 2022 St. Louis, Missouri Hyatt Regency St. [...]Read More...

Sinfonia’s $100,000 Challenge The end of the year is quickly approaching - and it is a time that is crucial to Sinfonia. The pandemic has been extremely difficult for Sinfonia, our Brothers, and our collegiate chapters. Many collegiate Brothers lost campus employment due to the extended shutdowns and have suffered financial hardships. Some chapters were [...]Read More...

Phi Mu Alpha mourns the passing of our Brother Carlisle Floyd, the opera composer extraordinaire deemed by many to be the "Father of American Opera," who sounded the Final Chord on Thursday, September 30, 2021, at the age of 95. Among the leading 20th-century American opera composers, Floyd is often cited with Ned Rorem, Philip [...]Read More...

Phi Mu Alpha Founder's Day 2021 On October 6, 1898, our beloved Sinfonia was founded at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Since then, we have grown to over 125,000 living members and nearly 250 chapters. Today, we have a greater knowledge of our history, our symbols, and the traditions that have [...]Read More...

As Boston Conservatory at Berklee makes a full in-person return to campus this fall, it welcomes a robust roster of dynamic artists, educators, and industry leaders to its esteemed faculty, including Brother Craig Juricka (Epsilon Phi Chapter - Capital University - 2013) who will join the voice faculty. Praised by OperaToday as an “engaging baritone,” Brother [...]Read More...

The NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles (ANHE) represent the top-performing high school musicians in the United States. So much more than a musical showcase, the ANHE program is a comprehensive and educational experience. Brother Todd Stoll (Alpha Theta Chapter - Miami University-Oxford - 1982) is no stranger to the program as he has been conducting the [...]Read More...

According to Active Minds, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising mental health awareness among college students, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among college students. Following National Suicide Prevention Week, Phi Mu Alpha is proud to announce that we will be partnering with EVERFI to offer our collegiate Brothers a chance to participate [...]Read More...

During the Annual Campus Prevention Network Summit, Phi Mu Alpha was recognized as one of only 25 Greek Letter organizations across the country to receive the 2021 CPN Official Seal of Prevention. The CPN Seal represents the highest standard for online prevention education and evaluates recipients with a rigorous set of criteria to ensure a [...]Read More...

Following a rigorous audition season this summer, Friends of Starlight in Tulsa, Oklahoma have announced that Brother Jeremy Parker (Delta Tau - Oklahoma State University - 1995) has been chosen as the new Conductor of the Starlight Band. Since 1947, Starlight Band has provided free concert band music to live audiences. This Tulsa tradition continues [...]Read More...

The Sound Machine of North Carolina Central University has recently named Brother Jovan Wilson as its Chief Music Arranger. Brother Wilson is a 2016 initiate of Sigma Kappa Chapter at Delaware State University, where he received his bachelor's degree in music and later served as Interim Director of Bands. Wilson is current Director of Bands [...]Read More...

Brother Christopher Heidenreich (Delta Eta Chapter - Youngstown State University - 2007) will join the faculty at Louisiana Tech University this fall. He will take up the baton after Brother Jim Robken (Mu Nu Chapter - Louisiana Tech University 1969), who decided to step down after 30 years of service to the university and the [...]Read More...

Brother Eric Posada (Zeta Sigma - Texas Tech University - 1998) was recently appointed Director of Choral Activities at Angelo State University. Posada is a vibrant and diverse conductor, choral educator, and mentor with seventeen years’ experience at the elementary, middle, high school, collegiate, university, community, church, and professional levels. Previously, Brother Posada served as [...]Read More...

In late July, Brother Jeffery Tribble (Nu Iota - South Carolina State University - 2013), was featured in Black Enterprise Magazine's "Empathetic Modern Leader Series." Brother Tribble has previously been named as one of Magic Johnson’s 32 Under 32 in 2016 and as a Black Enterprise Magazine BE Modern Man. He is a musician with [...]Read More...

All current listed collegiate members have been charged $82.00 for the Fall 2021 National per Capita Taxes and Fees in accordance with the National Constitution & Bylaws. Any accounts that were in arrears from Spring 2021 have been assessed a $15 Late Fee. Brothers may begin paying the financial obligation for Fall 2021 directly through their [...]Read More...

Delaware State University has named Sidney Sessoms, Jr. (Zeta Xi - Lincoln University - 2001) as its Director of Bands alongside Mr. Vincent Adkins as Assistant Director of Bands. Brother Sessoms is an alumnus of Delaware State - he completed his undergraduate education at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and earned a Master’s of [...]Read More...

First opened on August 15, 1904, Ravinia remains the oldest and most programmatically diverse music festival in North America, attracting about 600,000 guests to over 140 events each year.  These concerts run the gamut from Yo-Yo Ma to John Legend and hold an annual summer residency of the nation's finest orchestra, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The [...]Read More...

After being postponed a year due to COVID-19, the Paralympic Games are scheduled to take place this August in Tokyo, Japan. Brother John Kusku (Delta Iota Chapter – Western Michigan University – 2003) will be returning to the world stage as one of only ten people representing Team USA in Men’s Goalball. John first joined [...]Read More...

Congratulations to Dr. Gabriel Arnold on being named the Director of University Bands at the Savannah State University! In this role, Brother Arnold will direct the Savannah State University Band Program including the Powerhouse of the South marching band, pep, jazz, and symphonic wind ensemble bands in rehearsals and performances. He will provide leadership in [...]Read More...

At its 63rd National Convention in St. Augustine, Florida, the American School Band Directors Association named Brother William "Bill" Witcher (Rho Tau Chapter - Appalachian State University - 1971) the Edwin Franko Goldman Award. The award is the highest honor that the association can present to one of its members. The award is named after [...]Read More...

The Spring 2021 issue of The Red & Black is now available online for your reading pleasure. This edition focuses on finding a path forward despite the hardships we've all faced in recent times. You'll find stories about the power of music and community, turning a problem into an opportunity, and how our Brotherly connection can change [...]Read More...

Enriching Lives. Advancing Music. The Sinfonia Educational Foundation is proud to announce the availability of scholarship applications for the 2021-2022 academic year. Individual scholarship amounts that will be awarded to deserving applicants will range between $500 and $7,500. Each applicant will need to submit the online application, upload a completed Academic Achievement Form, upload a [...]Read More...

Scheduled Maintenance – Saturday, June 5, 2021 The Fraternity will be performing routine maintenance on various internal structures, including email servers, this Saturday from 2:00 am to 8:00 am CDT. During this time, some functions within member portals and 10 min email exchange may be limited. Most MySinfonia functionality should be accessible, although file links [...]Read More...

Congratulations to Dr. Douglas Overmier on being named the Director of Bands at the University of West Alabama. Brother Overmier will work alongside Assistant Director of Bands, Brother Michael Tignor (Zeta Kappa Chapter - 2011), who served as the Interim Director of Bands over the past few years while the university vetted candidates for the [...]Read More...

Congratulations to Brother Taylor Rambo, who will be taking on the role of Executive Director of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra this summer! Brother Rambo will succeed Executive Director Susan Stensland, who will retire after 15 years of distinguished service and join the GSO board of directors. A native of Marietta, Georgia, Taylor is a performing [...]Read More...

Phi Mu Alpha is proud to partner with our Brothers and friends in Taps for Veterans for the upcoming Taps Across America project taking place on Memorial Day. This annual project calls on musicians across the country to honor those who are on the front lines by sounding Taps on May 31st at 3 pm [...]Read More...

Congratulations to Brother Colin McKenzie on being named as the next Director of the School of Music at The University of Southern Mississippi! Currently, Brother McKenzie serves as Associate Director of Bands, Associate Professor of Music, and Director of the Pride of Mississippi at the University of Southern Mississippi.  At The University of Southern Mississippi, [...]Read More...

Phi Mu Alpha is continuing to provide each chapter with FREE face masks. These free 3-ply cotton masks that feature the Fraternity' lyre are meant to help Probationary Members, Collegiate Members, and Faculty Advisors adhere to health and safety regulations on campus in addition to following our safety protocols for the Initiation Ritual. Even if [...]Read More...

The past several months have been spent reviewing present conditions in the Fraternity and St. Louis, consulting with Brothers, representatives of our hotel site, meeting with planning consultants, and working to bring forward alternative plans of action. Recognizing that the Fraternity’s primary responsibility must be the health and safety of our Brothers, President Mark Lichtenberg, [...]Read More...