About Us

History of Sigma Alpha Iota

Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity was founded on June 12, 1903 at the University School of Music in Ann Arbor, MI (now known as the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at the University of Michigan) by Georgina Potts, Elizabeth Campbell, Leila Farlin Laughlin, Mary Storrs Davis, Minnie Davis Sherrill, Nora Crane Hunt, and Frances Caspari.

Sigma Alpha Iota is a member of the National Interfraternity Music Council alongside Phi Mu Alpha, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Mu Phi Epsilon, Delta Omicron, and Phi Beta, and is also currently affiliated with the American Classical Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Fraternity Communications Association, International Alliance for Women in Music, International Women's Brass Conference, League of American Orchestras, Maud Powell Society for Music and Education, NAfME, National Federation of Music Clubs, National Music Council, Professional Fraternity Association, and Society for American Music.

As of August 2022, there are 198 collegiate chapters and 115 alumnae chapters.

Mu Nu History

The Mu Nu chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota was chartered on April 10, 2015 at Winthrop University with 17 founding members. Since then, we have been hard at work supporting the Winthrop Music Department alongside the Nu Kappa chapter of Phi Mu Alpha and the Gamma Kappa chapter of Delta Omicron.

The Mu Nu chapter currently has 5 active members, 1 advisor, and 1 Friend of the Arts.

Charter Members

Nia Anthony, Kathryn Bernard, Ashley M. Blackwood, Brandy L. Brogden, Tyliah Broughton,

Sara DeOliveira, Nicole Ernst, Hannah Jessup, Hunter Jones, Rebecca King, Cherise Martinez,

Emily M. Milford, Elizabeth N. Oliver, Samantha L. Perry, Kat Rhoden, Anna Sanderson, Emmalee Wood

Fraternity Awards

Each year, various awards are given to chapters and their individual members to commemorate their service and dedication to Sigma Alpha Iota

Individual Awards

Sword of Honor

Joelle Glapinski (2023)

Emma Swire-Clark (2023)

Kaitlyn Mundy (2022)

Jacelyn Forst (2021 - Mu Lambda)

Sarah Ochoa (2021)

Casey Brauninger (2020)

Julia Dales (2019)

Jenna Kyber (2018)

Ashley Blackwood (2017)

Ruby Sword of Honor

Jenna Kyber (2019)

Collegiate Honor

Lauren Pace (2022)

Joelle Glapinski (2021)

Jacelyn Forst (2021 - Mu Lambda)

Scholastic Honor

Sarah Ochoa (2022)

Casey Brauninger (2021

The Sword of Honor, a tiny gold sword, is given to a member who has fulfilled all duties in each office she has held in an outstanding manner. She has shown strong leadership within the chapter and she has forwarded all the required reports of her office(s) to the province officer and/or appropriate national officer. The Sword of Honor may be given to an active member of a chapter.

A collegiate chapter may annually nominate a senior or graduate student for the Collegiate Leadership Award. She must have the Sword of Honor or be nominated for the Sword of Honor at the same time. The award is based on four criteria:

Qualities of leadership expressed in the member’s sense of organization and her ability to work well with chapter members, advisors, and faculty
Fraternity service in terms of chapter offices held, committee chairmanships, performance on chapter musicales, cooperation in chapter activities, and national fraternity viewpoint
Campus activities in terms of student organization participation, offices held outside of the fraternity, and general campus honors
Maintenance of a high scholarship level.

The purpose of the Sigma Alpha Iota Collegiate Honor Award is to give the Head of the Music Department an opportunity to recognize a Sigma Alpha Iota collegiate member for outstanding musicianship, scholarship, and fraternity service.

The purpose of the Sigma Alpha Iota Scholastic Award is to recognize academic achievement among Sigma Alpha Iota collegiate members. This is awarded to the collegiate member with the highest GPA at the end of each school year.

Chapter Awards

Collegiate Chapter Province Achievement Award

2018, 2021, 2022

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