Photo courtesy of www.sai-national.org
Sigma Alpha Iota is the professional music fraternity for women aiming to encourage, nurture, and support the art of music. Founded in 1903, SAI strives to encourage all women musicians, while supporting innovative educational programs in music for all stages of life.
Lawrence’s own SAI chapter was chartered in 1917 and its primary focus has since been to share music both throughout campus and around the Appleton community.
“We do a variety of things,” shares Sigma Alpha Iota president, Emily Bodensteiner ’12. “But one of our main focuses is outreach to the community through music.” Among the many undertakings of SAI, members have committed to weekly service trips at a local hospital. There, they put on musical performances in the lobby for the hospital’s youth patients. “I think we do a good job of sharing music with the community and spreading that to kids or people who might not get a chance,” said Bodensteiner ’12.
The sisters of Sigma Alpha Iota have also started a program where they introduce elementary school students to tall the instruments. They have worked with not for profit community organizations such as the Boys and Girl Club and the YMCA, to increase music education through enrichment programming. Annually, SAI also works to provide a scholarship for one non-conservatory student to have music classes.
In addition to participating in community-based projects, SAI is also centered around sisterhood. The group spends time together in fun activities, including apple picking and music recitals.
Sigma Alpha Iota is made up of singers, string players, wind players, music education majors, non music majors. To join or find out more information, email the membership chairperson at cayla.r.rosche@lawrence.edu.