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About Sinfonia
Sinfonia is a Brotherhood of men bound together for mutual
helpfulness. Its purpose is not only to bring men together as friends, but also
to provide a network of brothers with whom men can commune and renew their zeal
— a support network that helps the individual to meet the challenges that face
him in his daily life. By teaching men who are united as brothers to live their
lives according to the noble virtues set forth in the Fraternity's Initiation
Ritual, Sinfonia builds better, stronger, broader individuals who are able to
live in sympathy and in harmony with their Fraternity brothers and their fellow
man. The Initiation Ritual of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, which will mark the
transition into full membership, is one of the most meaningful and beautiful of
the Greek tradition. The dedication to the advancement of universal Truths and
brotherly association exemplified in the Ritual are the foundation of individual
fraternal friendship, chapter unity, and national solidarity in the promotion of
Sinfonia's dual mission: the making of men and the uplift of mankind.
Sinfonians share a love of music that unites them as brothers
with a common interest. The Fraternity teaches men to develop themselves and
their art, not for the sake of art itself, but as a means of enriching the lives
of others. Through a multitude of chapter, provincial, and national events,
Sinfonia offers unlimited opportunities for performance, community music
outreach, and other activities designed to develop a true appreciation for the
power of music to uplift the soul.
Sinfonia's collegiate chapters participate in a broad range
of activities emphasizing brotherhood, service, and performance in music.
Chapters take music into the community by singing at hospitals and homes for the
elderly; sponsor concerts of American music, jazz and choral festivals,
all-campus sings and Broadway-style reviews; provide a large variety of
performing ensembles ranging from big bands to barbershop quartets; commission
new works; bring prominent performers and clinicians to their campuses; and take
part in a variety of other social and musical activities. The possibilities for
participation in musical activities are limited only by the boundaries of
imagination, desire, and commitment.
Sinfonia provides many exciting opportunities for the
development of social and leadership skills in an atmosphere of brotherhood and
mutual support. Leadership roles may be assumed from nearly the first day an
individual is pledged to become an active member of the Fraternity. Beyond the
chapter, annual province workshops and national events allow members to become
more involved and to develop meaningful friendships with other musical students
across the nation.
A common phrase heard among brothers in the Fraternity is
“Once a Sinfonian, Always a Sinfonian.” The spirit of this phrase has fostered
alumni loyalty for more than one hundred years. As an alumni member, the
opportunities to remain active with the Fraternity are limitless. Alumni
associations, scattered throughout the country, provide more formalized ways for
alumni Sinfonians to gather together and further the ideals and Object of the
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A Brief History
Sinfonia was born on October 6, 1898 at the New England
Conservatory in Boston, when a group of thirteen young men under
the guidance of Ossian Everett Mills met “to consider the social
life of the young men students of that institution” and “to
devise ways and means by which it might be improved.” Mills,
bursar of the Conservatory, sought to create an Order in which
men with a shared love of music could develop the virtues of
manhood in themselves and in their fellows.
Sinfonia became a national fraternity on October 6, 1900, with the admission of a group of men at the Broad Street Conservatory in Philadelphia. Since that time Sinfonia has grown into the largest music fraternity in the world, with more than 150,000 initiates, and chapters on over 200 college and university campuses across the nation.
For over a century, Sinfonians in nearly every field of study and professional endeavor have transformed the face of music in America. Today, the Brotherhood represents a diverse group of individuals spanning the nation, who continue the proud tradition of advancing the Fraternity's Object.
A History of Sinfonia |
More about Sinfonia
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The Object of this Fraternity
shall be for the development of the best and truest
fraternal spirit, the mutual welfare and brotherhood of
musical students, the advancement of music in America
and a loyalty to the Alma Mater.
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