The Sinfonian - May 2013 - Preview Issue

May 2013

LYRECREST

Also Inside:page 10 History of the Headquarterspage 19 Music from Tragedy in Joplin, Missouri

Sinfonia’s National Home

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The Sinfonian

This special preview issue of

The Sinfonian features previews of:

The President’s Message

Sinfonia Composition Contest

Music from Tragedy in Joplin, Missouri

Alumni News

Chapter News

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The Sinfonian May 2013

Almost 17 years ago, in the summer of 1996,I made my first pilgrimage to Phi Mu Alpha’sNational Headquarters. I was travelling with abrother from my chapter to our first nationalevent, which happened to be in Evansville on thesame weekend as the annual Province Governors’meeting. It was the first time I met the officerswhose names I had memorized on the NationalExam and the brothers of the National Staff.Little did I realize the degree to which that visitwould influence my life! Since that time I haveattended over 130 meetings, educational events,and retreats at Lyrecrest, and have witnessedcountless brothers have the same experience ofvisiting Sinfonia’s home for the first time.

Since 1970 that old house in Evansville hasbeen our Fraternity’s base of operations, butLyrecrest is much more than an office for ourNational Staff; it is a place where brothers cometogether to solve their problems, strengthen their chapters, deepen their fraternal bonds, delveinto our highest ideals, and learn about the depthof our legacy and mission. When you walk in the back entrance there’s a wall decorated withsteins and mugs from different schools, and it’s a

tradition for brothers to leave notes to be read byfuture visitors from their chapters. If you reallywant to understand what happens at Lyrecrestfrom a young brother’s perspective, consider thesenotes brothers left about their experiences:

“This was a tremendous time of strengthening ourBrotherhood and learning to understand moredeeply the meaning of Sinfonia.”

“We sang, we ate, and we paid homage to ourbeloved ideals. It reminded us all of the purpose of our great Fraternity and we know that we are better brothers and musicians because of this pilgrimage.”

“Two weeks before this date I was ready to walkout the door and quit...I had lost faith inbrotherhood, value, worth, all these things thatwere seemingly so important. The trip here savedall of that.”

“My weekend here at Lyrecrest has beenrewarding in the most incredible of ways. Ourretreat was much more than I expected it to be.From strengthening the bonds of brotherhood, tolearning about the history of our beloved fraternityand chapter, this has easily been one of the bestexperiences of my life.”

A retreat gives brothers a chance to communein a way that doesn’t always take place in thechapter. There’s something about going awayfrom the familiar environment of their campusesthat opens their minds to new ways of thinkingand relating. A brother writes, “The retreats toLyrecrest are some of the best bonding moments thatwe experience as brothers in Phi Mu Alpha. Thething that we’ve drawn out of this experience is thatspending time together, no matter the reason, is one of the best recipes for fraternal bonding.”

A brotherhood retreat to any location mighthave this impact upon brothers, but there’ssomething about the journey to Sinfonia’snational home that uniquely inspires brothers.Where else can one see the famous invitation

from the “Old Boys” to the “New Boys” thatstarted our society, the minutes from the firstmeeting of the Sinfonia Club on October 6, orthe regalia used in the first presentation of ourmodern Ritual almost 90 years ago! Over the past decade the development of our NationalArchives and Museum has given unprecedentedaccess to the history of our Fraternity, instillingmembers with pride in our legacy and a sense of responsibility to preserve and advance it. Asone Sinfonian put it, “Seeing all of the amazinghistorical artifacts and other items that have survivedthe test of time from the early years of Phi Mu Alphawas more exhilarating than I could ever imagine.”Another writes, “When you spend time here yourealize what it truly means to be a Sinfonian.”

The Fraternity needs your help to providethese experiences for our brothers. With thegrowing popularity of retreats, the number ofSinfonians visiting the Headquarters hasincreased dramatically. Our home has gotten a lotof use and can no longer keep up with our needs.The Bob Bray Cottage has housed thousands ofbrothers, but conditions are cramped with backto back bunk-beds, only one toilet and twoshowers that are not wheelchair accessible. Toaddress this problem, the National ExecutiveCommittee engaged an architect last trienniumto develop a plan for expansion, and at the 2012Convention we announced our plans to build aSinfonia Education and Retreat Center.Imagine giving generations of Sinfonians...

• A Learning Center to delve into importanttopics with space to present a Ritual;

The President’s Message

Dear Brothers,

DAV

ID P

ETTY

PH

OTO

GRA

PHY

• A Great Room to gather as a family and make memories that last a lifetime;

• A sleeping quarters to get well-rested forlearning and growth;

• Ample kitchen and bathroom facilities;• A relaxing setting for summer programs

to advance music, like performance andcomposition workshops.

It will cost $1,000,000 to build this Center for thefuture of Sinfonia. That equates to a thousandbrothers giving $1,000. If you can afford a recurringgift of $21/month for four years, then you can be asignificant part of something long-lasting for ourFraternity and our brothers.

It is about time Phi Mu Alpha had the type of facility that other fraternities are able to build with ease. We must get out of the mindset that we are “poor musicians” and show ourselves andfuture Sinfonians what we can accomplish whenevery man plays his part. Just imagine what it will mean to the brothers who visit our fraternalhome decades from now to see that, when it wasreally needed, we came together and made it happen–for their sake.

I know that, like me, you probably receive lots of requests for contributions. I can promise you thisis one that will have a profound impact on theFraternity and brothers for generations to come. It’snot just about a building, but a home wherebrothers can deepen their fraternal bonds and learnabout our noble ideals for generations. As youperuse this issue of The Sinfonian, please look at ourplans, and help build a facility worthy of ourFraternity and everything we hold dear. I hope I cancount on your support. Sinfonia needs your help.

Fraternally yours

In ΦΜΑ,

John MongioviNational President

The Sinfonian is the official publication of Phi MuAlpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Inc. Currentmonths for publication are December and May.

First printed as the Sinfonia Year Book in 1901.

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Headquarters10600 Old State RoadEvansville, Indiana 47711-1399Toll-Free: (800) 473-2649 Fax: (812) 867-0633www.sinfonia.org

Phi Mu Alpha is a member of, supporter of, or affiliated with the following organizations: American Classical MusicHall of Fame, Barbershop Harmony Society, Drum CorpsInternational, Fraternity Communications Association,National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Music Policy Roundtable, National Association of MusicMerchants (NAMM) Support Music Coalition, NationalInterfraternity Music Council

Volume LXI Issue 11

18 Life Loyal

20 Alumni Accent

25 Campus Notes

31 Directory

32 Colony Information

Managing Editor:Mark A. Wilson

TO SUBSCRIBEAnnual subscriptions to The Sinfonian are

$5.00. Your subscription can be paid online at www.sinfonia.org/subscribe or through mail by sending a check or money order to the NationalHeadquarters. Please make sure to provide your mailing information. If you are interested in a lifetimesubscription, please visit www.sinfonia.org/lifeloyal.

6 The Personal Side of LYRECREST

18 Foundation Scholarships Awarded

This issue printed on 10% post-consumerrecycled paper using soy based inks.

Contents

www.facebook.com/phimualphasinfonia

www.twitter.com/phimualpha

www.youtube.com/sinfonianhq

ON THE COVER: Rendering of the Great Room in the proposed Sinfonia Education & Retreat Center.

The fall 2012 issue of the Sinfonian featured photographs from our National Convention. All Conventionphotographs were used courtesy of our photographer, David Petty. We apologize for the oversight.

May 2013 The Sinfonian 1

2 The Sinfonian May 2013

Sinfonia News

PHI MU ALPHA SINFONIA FRATERNITY ANNOUNCES $5,000 GRAND PRIZEFOR COMPOSITION

Who can enter? Any American citizen, male or female.

What are the piece specifications for entry? The piece must be

a choral composition (TTBB). The piece can be a cappella or include piano

accompaniment. Pieces without accompaniment must be scored with a piano

reduction for rehearsal. No other instrumental accompaniment is permitted.

The duration of the piece must be between 5 and 8 minutes.

The text of the composition may be from any source. An English

translation is required for texts in other languages. Pre-existing texts

should be in the public domain. Where this is not the case, permission to

set a text and publish it subsequently, must be obtained in writing from

the author or copyright holder and must be enclosed with the entry form.

What do I submit? A score: E-mail a pdf file; or, if your entry is

mailed, an unbound paper score, 8 1/2” x 11” (or A4), no covers, staples,

combs, or wire. The composer’s name must not appear anywhere on the

score, nor should any dedications or acknowledgements; the title of the

work should appear on the score. (For mailed scores, send only photocopies

or reproductions of your score, which we will scan to create a pdf file; your score

will not be returned. The applicant should retain the original score.)

A synthesized audio recording. E-mail your audio recording as an

MP3 audio file or MIDI file, or mail it on a CD. Your entry must be

accompanied by a recording. The title of the work should appear on the

recording or in its file name. (Send only copies or reproductions of your

recording; your recording will not be returned. The applicant should retain the

original recording. )

The entry form: All applicants

must sign and attach an official

Entry Form to your score. If

entering by e-mail, print out,

complete by hand (using a pen),

sign, scan, and send your entry

form as a pdf file. Don’t forget

to sign your entry. The entry

form can be downloaded at

www.sinfonia.org/CompositionEntry.

Optionally, composers are encouraged to submit a brief background

statement about their work and any performance notes that they would

care to make.

Where do I send my entry? By mail: Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia

Fraternity, Attn: Composition Contest, 10600 Old State Rd. Evansville,

IN 47711. By email: To the Fraternity’s Director of Programs, Mark

Helmstetter, at [email protected].

How is the contest judged? The competition will be judged by

a committee appointed by the National President. Depending on the

number of submissions, a preliminary judging committee may be

appointed by the National President to narrow down the submissions to

be reviewed by the final judging committee. No composer’s identity will

be divulged to the jury before or during judging. The decision of the

contest committee will be final. Should the committee consider none of

the submitted compositions to be meritorious, a “no prize” decision will

be rendered.

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia has a long history of supporting new American musicwith composition contests. Our first composition contest took place in 1912,and the tradition continued until 1960. At our 2012 Convention, on thehundredth anniversary of our first such effort, we revived our tradition with theannouncement of a Composition Contest with a Grand Prize of $5,000.

> Gold medallion awarded to the winner of the first SinfoniaComposition Competition, 1912.


Strong consideration will be given to a work’s potential for

repeated performance. The winning work must demonstrate

excellence of composition, ‘sing-ability’ (given reasonable

rehearsal time) and idiomatic effectiveness.

What are the prizes available?

• The winning composer will be awarded a $5,000 prize.

• A publishing contract will be offered to the winner, courtesy

of Prairie Dog Press.

• A publishing contract may be offered to other entrants, at the

discretion of the publisher.

• The winning work will be premiered at the 2015 National

Convention by the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Men of Song

Chorus. All scores selected for performance will be

reproduced by Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and all copies

destroyed after the concert.

How are performance and audio reproduction

rights handled? In consideration for the rewards listed

above, contestants grant Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia exclusive

performance rights through July 31, 2015 and non-exclusive

performance rights after July 31, 2015.

Also in consideration for the rewards listed below, contestants

grant Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia the following nonexclusive rights

through June 30th, 2017:

• Permission to photocopy the score for the use of judges,

performers, and Convention attendees

• Permission to make audio and video recordings

of compositions

• Mechanical duplication and synchronization rights (i.e.

the right to reproduce and sell copies of audio and video

recordings) for up to 2000 copies of each submitted work

• Broadcast rights for radio and television performances

of compositions

• Permission to post audio and video recordings of

compositions on the Internet, which will be available

for download.

What is the deadline for submission? July 1, 2014

Who do I contact with questions? Please direct

additional questions to [email protected].

JEREMY EVANS AND WILLIAMLAMBERT DEPART FRATERNITY STAFF

Jeremy M. Evans, Delta Nu (Bradley) ’98, announced

his departure from the position of chief operating officer of

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Evans has served as the Fraternity’s

Chief Operating Officer for over two years, and as a

member of the National Staff for nearly a decade. Evans

has accepted a position in Evansville as Executive Director

of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ohio Valley.

In his time at the Headquarters, Evans’ accomplishments included the

development and implementation of the highly successful Leadership

Institute program, the advancement of the Fraternity’s risk management

efforts and involvement and facilitation of four Fraternity Conventions,

including top-level planning, management, and oversight of the 2012

National Convention.

“I literally grew up professionally working for the Fraternity,” Evans said. “The

Fraternity has given me so much to be thankful for through service to this

organization, and Phi Mu Alpha will always have my loyalty, reverence and

respect. The countless friendships I’ve made with brothers and incredible

experiences I’ve had at the Headquarters over the years will last me a lifetime.”

Will Lambert, Iota Alpha (Alma) ’05, also announced

today his departure from the position of Director of

Programs on the National Staff. Lambert has served in the

position for over two years, and has been a member of the

National Staff for over five years. Lambert has accepted a

position as a Project Manager for Sequoia Applied Solutions,

an engineering company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

In his time on the National Staff, Lambert has overseen and grown the

colony education program, and has helped to renovate and beautify several

aspects of the Lyrecrest campus, including the National Museum and Archives,

basement, and club room. He has helped coordinate and facilitate numerous

events, including dozens of convocations and retreats and two National

Conventions.

“It’s been an amazing ride,” says Lambert. “I’ve grown so much and gained

innumerable friendships over the past five years. I’ll miss this place a lot, but

I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished for the Fraternity and equally as proud of

how Lyrecrest has prepared me for future endeavors .”


Alumni Accent

Two years ago, May 22, 2011,a devastating tornado hit Joplin, Missouri and left the city in shocked ruins. The ensuingpictures of the damage, some of which can beseen accompanying this article, hardly do theevent justice. An estimated 2,000 buildings and7,000 homes were destroyed, somewherebetween 10-20% of the entire city. The death toll varies depending on the source, but was near160 by the end of it, with nearly 1,000 injuries

attributed to the tornado and its aftermath.Initial estimates of the financial damage were wellover a billion, though with uninsured losses notrecorded, the true monetary count could be threeor four times that number.

In the face of such unspeakable tragedy, there is little to soften the blow or provide comfort or solace. But as Sinfonians, we know that,oftentimes, one of the few things that can bring some measure of comfort is music. BrotherKarl Paulnack, Alpha Alpha (National Honorary)’11, said it eloquently in his keynote address at the2012 National Convention:

“If you watch for this role of music in carryingand supporting human experience, you will see itin places you never expect. You remember a fewyears ago there was a terrible earthquake in Haitiand I got up the next morning and read about itfirst on the CNN webpage on my laptop duringmy morning coffee. The earthquake hit in earlyevening, and right after describing the damage,the last sentence in the third paragraph said:‘People prayed and sang through the night.’

“Now, that was a horrible earthquake. Brokenlimbs and no sanitary drinking water and peopletrapped under buildings and virtually NO rescuein sight for a long time. Of all the things you needto do to recover from an earthquake like that,especially in the first few hours, why would yousing? When people are just trying to stay alive, justthe basics, nothing fancy, just the essentials, justlife, why do we sing?

“Well we sing because it supports our capacityto hold our experience; music has a way ofhelping us stay with what is happening, happy orsad, it keeps us in the game, and this happensevery day and we don’t even notice it, or if we donotice it, we don’t understand it.”

StormStormThe Other Side of

>“The day is bright and happy and warm. People smile and wave as they drive by in the

neighborhoods. Children laugh in their play. Barbeques grill away in backyards. In their

homes people are relaxed and contented. It is a lazy spring afternoon...” - Narration One

from The Other Side of Storm

We are the music-makers,And we are the dreamers of dreams,Wandering by lone sea-breakers,And sitting by desolate streams;World-losers and world-forsakers,On whom the pale moon gleams;Yet we are the movers and shakersOf the world forever, it seems.

With wonderful deathless dittiesWe build up the world’s great cities,And out of a fabulous storyWe fashion an empire’s glory.One man with a dream, at pleasure,Shall go forth and conquer a crown;And three with a new song’s measureCan trample a kingdom down.

We in the ages lyingIn the buried past of the earth,Built Ninevah with our sighing,And Babel itself with our mirth;And o’erthrew them with prophesyingTo the old of the new world’s worth;For each age is a dream that is dying,Or one that is coming to birth.- Arthur William Edgar O’Shaughnessy


Alumni Accent

Though the scope of the devastation wassmaller, the Joplin tragedy mirrored the Haitianearthquake in terms of the type of sorrow itengendered in the population. And it was

this event that spurred Joplin’s own musical tribute,spearheaded in large part byDr. Hubert Bird, Beta Delta(Pittsburg State) ’60. Bird, a

nationally renowned composer and Joplin native,spoke with his friend, fellow Sinfonian and retiredUS Army Band conductor Col. L. BryanShelburne Jr., Theta Lambda (Hardin-Simmons)’61, after the tragedy. At Shelburne’s suggestion,and inspired by the acts of courage, humanity,and suffering he had seen, Bird set aboutcomposing an operatic work as a gift to the peopleof Joplin. “I can’t offer money,” he said, “but I canoffer this artistic work.” Bird’s music, along withnarrative by Duane Hunt and poems selectedspecifically for the work, make up the piece’s taleof tragedy and hope. The opening lines from thework, “The Other Side of Storm”, can be foundat the beginning of this article, and other excerptshave been chosen to accompany this story as well.In all, it is a 45-minute three movement work forchorus and orchestra.

“I Cannot Find My Way”I cannot find my way: there is no star

In all the shrouded heavens anywhere;

And there is not a whisper in the air

Of any living voice but one so far

That I can hear it only as a bar

Of lost, imperial music, played when fair

And angel fingers wove, and unaware,

Dead leaves to garlands where no roses are.

No, there is not a glimmer, not a call,

For one that welcomes, welcomes when he fears,

The black and awful chaos of the night;

For through it all – above, beyond it all –

I know the far-sent message of the years,

I feel the coming glory of the Light.

- Edwin Arlington Robinson

Almost one year after the day of the tragedy,May 12, 2012, the work premiered. The concert,titled “A Vision of Hope: The Other Side ofStorm” was attended by close to 2,000 people.And more than just the attendees were thehundreds who volunteered their time to make theperformance special. These included an orchestra,operatic soloists, and community and high schoolchoirs mixed with professional musicians. Thework was conducted by Brother Shelburne,whose initial suggestion helped spark its creation.It was truly a communal effort.

In their review of the concert, The Joplin Globenoted just what a stark change had occurred inthe year since the tornado hit:

The scene that unfolded Saturday night at Joplin’sMemorial Hall was worlds apart from the one thatunfolded there a year ago.

Gone were hundreds of tornado survivors tendedby nurses, doctors and volunteers in what served as anemergency hospital and shelter. In their place wereelegantly dressed musicians and choir membersperforming a concert billed as a gift to Joplin.

In the lobby was the hall’s only remaining evidence of the EF-5 tornado that leveled a third ofthe town: a broken and battered Joplin High Schoolbass drum that Rick Castor, band director, found inthe JHS parking lot after spending hours May 22pulling the living and dead from cars.

Saturday night, less than two weeks short of a yearlater, Castor helped prepare the space for the concert.“It just shows what a lot of resilience and hope cando,” Castor said.

The musicians, the youngest of whom were inelementary school at the time of the tragedy, wereable to give the gift of music to a still-grieving and still-recovering community. Parallels with our own Mills Music Mission, the Haitianearthquake, or other tragedies are all too clear. It’sa powerful reminder of not just the power ofmusic but of the power of people to help oneanother through crisis. Eric Eichenberger, thechoir director at Joplin High School, whosestudents participated in the concert, echoed this,saying that “[Music] serves as a connection to ourfeelings. It has been healing us all year long.”

> Pictures of Joplin after the tornado hit.

>“Stand at a distance and gaze upon a vast emptiness. See for miles across the great, wasted

swath of ‘The Zone’...Let the eye wander across the garden of rock, debris, dust, and torn

boards. The stomach lurches, the heart drops. The emptiness disorients. We’ve tried to find

our former home, but simply cannot. We can’t even find the street where we lived. When

names and numbers are gone, when landmarks are wiped away, when there is nothing but

wind-scoured dirt and wreckage, there is no place – no ‘going to.’ Among the broken boards,

the rusting, tortured metal, the sparking, spitting, buring wires – we have become splintered.

Sometimes you really can’t go home again.” - Narration Four from The Other Side of Storm

*PHOTO OF DR. HUBERT BIRD PROVIDED BY PATTY JESSEE PHOTOGRAPHY


Alumni Association ContactsAtlanta – Aaron Angel

[email protected] – Tarrence Hughes

[email protected] Florida – Thomas Hyder

[email protected] Ohio – Ryan Allen

[email protected] – Jonathan Nicolosi

[email protected] Georgia – Raymond Patricio

[email protected]/Ft.Worth – Jason Guidry

[email protected] Angeles – Christopher Thaxter

[email protected] Nashville – Nathaniel Hudson

[email protected] York City – Kenneth Alston

[email protected] Alabama – Benjamin Cunningham Jr.

[email protected] County (Calif.) – Breysi Garcia

[email protected] – Jonathan Engel

[email protected] Antonio – Isaac Chavez

[email protected] Bay – Steven Ulloa

[email protected], D.C. – John Paul Jones

[email protected]

Alumni Association Interest Group ContactsAlabama: Northern – Keynon Jones

[email protected]: Miami – Miguel Savinon

[email protected] Vegas – Rich Legon

[email protected]: Central – Scott Pummill

[email protected] Carolina: Fayetteville – David Crow

[email protected] Carolina: Winston-Salem – Kendrick Smith

[email protected] New York – Patrick O’Brien

[email protected]: Northwest – Nick Kottman

[email protected]: Clarksville – Christopher Monhollen

[email protected]: Knoxville – Tyler Tallent

[email protected]: Corpus Christi – Adam Lopez

[email protected]: Central – Eddie Brown

[email protected]

Please contact the National Headquarters if youwould like information on how to start an alumniassociation in your area.

There are parallels between this concert and thecommunity pageants Percy Jewett Burrell used towrite and direct. In them, hundreds of people –sometimes thousands – of a community wouldcome together with a shared purpose. There wouldbe singing, dancing, orchestral and oratoricalperformances, all under the banner of a single work.Though Burrell’s pageants didn’t spring specificallyfrom tragic events, he identified them as having thepower to uplift a community morally and spiritually.That idea is only intensified in a place like Joplin,where the resiliency and hope of the community has helped them to recover from the devastationthey faced.

“Defeat May Serve as Well as Victory”Defeat may serve as well as victory

To shake the soul and let the glory out.

When the great oak is straining in the wind,

The boughs drink in new beauty, and the trunk

Sends down a deeper root on the windward side.

Only the soul that knows the mighty grief

Can know the mighty rapture. Sorrows come

To stretch our spaces in the heart for joy.

- Edwin Markham

The work has since been performed again, thistime on the campus of Pittsburg State University onOctober 4, 2012. Members of the Beta DeltaChapter played in the orchestra, sang in the choir,and ushered the concert. And a reception for theconcert was hosted by the local Sigma Alpha Iota

chapter. The piece continues to stand as a musicaltribute to the people of Joplin, a remembrance ofwhat happened, and a hope for a bright futurebeyond the tragedy.

CDs and DVDs of the debut performance of Bird’s work are available online atwww.joplincc.com/concertdvd.htm. All proceedsfrom sales go to the Joplin Tornado Relief Fund.

>“Wait! Move closer. Cross the debris-field. Look more closely at that rock-and-wreckage-strewn

moonscape. See? Just there...a massive cross of iron still standing...and there...a schoolyard

message of H*OP*E rises above the rubble...and there...a paint-sprayed sign on a single, ruined

wall: “Temporarily moved. All OK. Will return soon”...and another...“Down – not out!” Across

a brick wall an artist has scrolled out the words, “Faith, Love, Believe, Create, Remember, Grow,

Restore, Dream.” The darkness recedes a bit. The light grows, as music in a dream...”

- Narration Five from The Other Side of Storm

Tornado Quick Facts:• The tornado that hit Joplin was a multivortex

tornado. Multivortex tornados contain two or

more small and intense subvortices that orbit the

center of the larger tornado circulation.

• It was the deadliest tornado in the US in over

50 years, and the 7th deadliest in US history.

• It is the costliest tornado in US history, based

on insurance payout estimates.

• Wind speeds of the tornado are estimated at up

to 200 mph, and the “path length” of the tornado

was just over 22 miles.

• At an estimated three billion dollars in damage,

and with a life of only 38 minutes, the tornado

was responsible for almost 79 million dollars of

damage per minute


Alumni Updates

Man of Music Leonard E. Slatkin,Alpha Alpha (National Honorary) ’87,has released a book, “ConductingBusiness: Unveiling the MysteryBehind the Maestro.” Drawing on hisown experiences on and off thepodium, Slatkin takes an in-depthlook into the world of the baton.Covering everything from learninghow to read music to standing in front of an orchestra for the first time,what to wear, and how to deal with the press, Conducting Business is a

unique look at a unique profession. The book is available through avariety of popular retailers.

Dr. Karl Paulnack S, Alpha Alpha (National Honorary) 2011, hasbeen named Dean of the Ithaca College School of Music. Paulnack, anoted educator, speaker, and pianist, will begin in the position on July 1.

Signature Sinfonian Herbert Owen Reed S, Zeta (Missouri) ’31,was awarded the Medal of Honor at the 2012 Midwest Clinic. TheMedal of Honor was introduced in 1962 as a way to honor conductors,educators, composers, and others whose unique service to musiceducation and continuing influence on the development andimprovement of bands and orchestras deserve special recognition. Reedwas honored for his significant and lasting contributions through hiscompositions, many of which have entered the standard repertoire.Reed shares this honor with fellow Sinfonian and Man of MusicLeonard E. Slatkin, Alpha Alpha (National Honorary) ’87, who was alsoa Medal of Honor recipient this year.

Tom Akins, Eta-Omicron(Cincinnati) ’62, has released abook, Behind the CopperFence: A Lifetime on Timpani.It chronicles his years as Principal Timpanist of the Indianapolis Symphony

Orchestra. It includes stories about how his training developed, his majorteachers, favorite and not-so-favorite repertoire and conductors, prominent

musicians with whom he has worked, and insights into the joys and occasional disappointments of holding down a principal chair in one of the nation’s major symphony orchestras. It includes a chapter on his collegiate days, where he served for two years as President of the Eta-Omicron chapter. It is available athttp://www.behindthecopperfence.com.

A CD recently released by internationally acclaimed trumpeter JamesAckley is comprised entirely of works by Sinfonian composers. His CD“New American Works for Trumpet” features: “Summer Suite” byGreg Bartholomew, Nu Sigma (William & Mary) ’79, “The Girl inWhite” by Robert J. Bradshaw, Delta Sigma (South Carolina) ’92, and“Sonata for Trumpet and Piano” by Gordon (Dick) Goodwin, AlphaIota (Univ. of Texas) ’65.

Goodwin is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University ofSouth Carolina where he taught composition and theory and directedthe orchestra. Bradshaw, who studied with Goodwin, lives and worksin historic Gloucester, Massachusetts, where he is continually inspiredby its rich artistic history. Bartholomew composes in Seattle and firstconnected with Ackley on Facebook. His “Summer Suite” for trumpethas alternate accompaniments for piano, string quartet, string orchestra,chamber orchestra, sax quartet and concert band. The “New AmericanWorks for Trumpet” CD is available from Amazon, iTunes, CDBabyand many other online dealers, as well as directly from the label,Beauport Classical (www.beauportclassical.com).

Michael D. Clevenger, Alpha Omega (Carnegie Mellon) ’59, hasannounced his retirement after 47 years as Principle Horn of theChicago Symphony Orchestra. A world-renowned performer,Clevenger’s career included hundreds of performances around theworld alongside many of the greatest names in modern music.

Dr. Geary Larrick, Beta Xi (Ohio State) ’63, has been publishingsince his undergraduate college days, especially in the area of percussionmusic. He has ten citations in Books in Print, forty-six in RILMAbstracts, eighty-six in Music Index and one hundred twenty-seven inWorldCat online at research libraries. Geary performs in centralWisconsin on percussion and piano.

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Alumni Accent


Tomasulo premiered an original composition set to a reading of Dr.Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Zeta Omega also helped theUniversity of Hartford’s women’s music fraternity, ΣΑΙ, put together a‘Swing Night,’ on which ΣΑΙ raised over $625 for the Leukemia &Lymphoma society.

University of Illinois – Alpha XiWe started out the semester by working on getting our name out

there, bringing in nine probationary members, our biggest PM class inrecent history.

On September 29th, Illini football hosted Penn St., and the visiting teambrought their marching band. Sinfonians in both bands got together forpictures and the common love of music. Unfortunately, our faculty advisor,Thomas Schleis, Gamma Zeta (Lawrence) ’69, passed away in July. Thechapter had the honor of performing at his memorial service on October21st. Losing a brother was devastating, but the experience helped us growcloser as brothers. For the MMM, we went to a local hospital to sing carolsto the pediatric ward. We also went to a local nursing home and caroled withthe university’s Sigma Alpha Iota chapter.

University of Southern Mississippi – Eta PhiThe fall semester of 2012 has most likely been one of the most

important semesters in Eta Phi’s history. Phase two of the colonizationprocess was completed on October the 28th and the chapter wasreactivated. We’ve also been able to participate in many activities such asstate-wide travel, participation in the Mills Music Mission at a localnursing home, and a very successful car wash fundraiser.

Shenandoah University – Nu PsiWith the initiation of 14 men from fall 2012’s Gamma Eta pledge

class, the chapter will have 45 collegiate Sinfonians this spring. During thefall semester, Nu Psi took part in two Mills Music Missions and threemusicales. Our most recent musicale, the inter-fraternal winter musicale,was shared with Kappa Kappa Psi, Sigma Rho Delta, and Sigma Alpha Iota.Together, the four fraternities raised hundreds of dollars for ShenandoahUniversity’s initiative to help rebuild the College Catherine Flon, a K-12school in Carrefour, Haiti, which was destroyed by the January 2010earthquake. During November, the Nu Psi Chapter hosted the fourthannual Mr. Shenandoah pageant where gentlemen representing studentorganizations compete to be crowned Mr. Shenandoah. The proceeds fromthe Mr. Shenandoah pageant are divided between the James A. KriewaldPhi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Scholarship Fund and the Nu Psi chapter.

South Carolina State University – Nu IotaThis past fall semester, around the holidays, the chapter decided that,

instead of only doing large events, we would also hold a series of smallerperformances with smaller crowds. One of these small performances wasat our advisor’s church. The church is located in a very rural area and onlyhas a congregation of around 100 people. We set up a program thatinvolved traditional holiday music, and general religious songs that wentalong with the theme of program. Our next venture was going aroundthe campus and singing songs and spreading holiday cheer among a fewof the offices. All of the people were delighted, especially the secretary ofthe Honors College. At the time, her mother was sick and it was takinga heavy toll on the secretary but when came into the office singing “DonaNobis Pacem” you could see the brightening of her spirit as we were ableto bring her out of the slump that she was in and into the holiday spirit.The final performance series was singing as special guests at the choralprogram of Brother Rashad Anderson, ’09. “When the brothers askedme if they could sing at my program, I was so excited,” said Anderson.“They came and everyone enjoyed them. The kids even made a videothanking them and asking if they could come back.”

University of Hartford – Zeta OmegaDuring the 2012 fall semester, Zeta Omega raised more than $2,500

for various philanthropic organizations. The beneficiaries included theHartford Marathon Adsid Master Class Program, Movemer & Sons – arelated charity of the Livestrong foundation, The Lukemia &Lymphoma Society, the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program, and thepurchase of new music stands for the Hartt School’s practice rooms. Asalways, the brotherhood raised the funds by organizing a game ofpay-to-play ‘assassins,’ and throwing multiple parties and concerts,including their annual “Toys for Tots Holiday Concert,” at which Bobby

> Nu Psi Chapter’s Winter Musicale.

> Eta Phi at their reactivation.

Space is limited—preference is given tosubmissions about creative, unique or interestingchapter and colony events. To read submissions fromother chapters, visit www.sinfonia.org/campusnotes.

Submission by chapters of news and photos forCampus Notes are due by the deadlines listed onpage 32. The next deadline is September 15, 2013.Articles are limited to 250 words.

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The Sinfonian - May 2013 - Preview Issue