Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia - Theta Upsilon Chapter, Delta State University - Cleveland, Mississippi
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Chapter News

2009 Convention LogoChapter brothers to perform in all three national fraternity ensembles
In mid-July, three chapter brothers will set out to Orlando, Florida, to rehearse and perform in all of the ensembles at the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia 2009 National Convention. Brother Greg Cobb (Theta Upsilon, ’08) will be playing the drums for the Convention’s Jazz Band, led by Jim Ketch (Alpha Rho, ’78), and with the sit-in playing of Jamey Aebersold (Gamma Tau, ’68). Brother Mark Helmstetter (Theta Upsilon, ’03) will be playing the euphonium in the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Wind Ensemble, which will be conducted by Dr. Bobby Adams (Theta Pi, ’61), with one piece guest conducted by Dr. Frank Ticheli, who has been selected by the fraternity to be a national honorary member, to be initiated at Convention. Brother Andrew Owen (Theta Upsilon, ’06) will be singing bass in the Men of Song Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Men’s Chorus, under the baton of Dr. Dennis Shrock (Zeta Tau, ’63). [Read more...]

Group picture by the national headquarters signChapter takes a retreat to Lyrecrest
For the first time in many years, the chapter visited Lyrecrest, the fraternity's national headquarters in Evansville, Indiana, for a weekend retreat on April 3-5.  The caravan of about 23 people left Cleveland at about 4:00 p.m. and arrived in Evansville after midnight.  The chapter ate breakfast and, with the assistance of the fraternity retreat coordinator, Will Lambert, did some brotherhood-building exercises, along with some leadership development exercises.  Throughout the retreat, the chapter made copies of all old archived chapter files, from the petition to become a chapter in 1960 to the chapter reports of the current millennium, filling out years of formerly lost chapter information.  Saturday evening, National Vice President John A. Mongiovi spoke for about four hours about the message of the ritual and the philosophy of the fraternity.  The chapter very much enjoyed the retreat, getting to know each other even better, speaking with the foremost authority on the ritual, eating together, and visiting each other, miles away from the responsibilities of their lives. [Read more...]

Several Sinfonians after the presentation.Chapter does its second mass Mills Music Mission
Over the weekend of March 21, the chapter participated in a large Mills Music Mission around the Northwest Mississippi region, including Southaven, Hernando, Memphis, Batesville, and Grenada.  The Mills Music Mission is a philanthropy where brothers go to hospitals and retirement homes to sing and spread the joy of music with those who need it most.  Similar to the Mills Music Mission of the previous year, the chapter did not just sing in one place, but in several.  The chapter spent from an hour to an hour and a half in each facility, singing and visiting the residents.  The mission was a very emotionally powerful experience, showing the brothers firsthand the power of music on the human spirit.  Many brothers admitted that it was the most moving musical experience of their lives. The Mills Music Mission will continue to be a beloved activity of the chapter, and it hopes that the mission brought as much joy to the residents as it did to the chapter. [Read more...]

Province Workshop Group Photo.Harmony Ball leads to a Sinfonian proposal
On Friday, February 27, 2009, the chapter held its formal, called the Harmony Ball, at Stafford's on Main in Drew, Mississippi.  The party's entertainment was Brandi Lyle Ward, who kept the evening very enjoyable and inviting. The formal was open to the members and dates of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Mu Phi Epsilon.  Those who attended the party enjoyed either a delicious shrimp alfredo, a well-prepared country fried steak, or a scrumptious vegetarian dish.  The appetizer was a plate of fried green tomatoes, and the dessert was a rich bread pudding.  Near the end of the evening, Brother Joe Raymond proposed to Miss Amanda Gill with the chapter singing a special version of the Phi Mu Alpha Serenade to a Girl.  It proved to be a very memorable night for all who attended. [Read more...]


Several Sinfonians after the presentation.Brother Bill Clark is presented with the Orpheus Award
During Delta State's 2009 Honor Band program on January 31, 2009, Brother Bill Clark (Theta Upsilon, 1972) was awarded the Orpheus Award, a very high honor in the fraternity, for having made a lasting impact on the music of America.  Brother Clark was the director of bands at Delta State University during the 1970s, and since then has been a guest clinician many times across the country.  Brother Joe Raymond said during the presentation that "he is a true example of the advancement of music in America, through his tenure as director of bands at Delta State, and across the country in other schools and clinics, shaping young minds and really pushing people to become great musicians."  Designed as a local-level counterpart of the National Citation, the Orpheus Award was first presented in 1973 to Will B. Green by Mu Omega Chapter. Since then it has been awarded about three hundred times. [Read more...]

Province Workshop Group Photo.Chapter attends 2009 Province 24 Workshop
On the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Province 24, which includes all the chapters of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia that are in Mississippi, held the 2009 Province Workshop.  It was held at Mississippi State University's new fine arts building.  The Theta Upsilon chapter sent twenty-three brothers to the event.  The highlight of the workshop was the presentation by the national chair of the Province Governor Council, Mark Lichtenberg.  The province used this workshop to elect a Collegiate Province Representative (CPR), Assistant CPRs, and Province Fraternity Education Officer.  It elected Brother Coday Anthony of Theta Upsilon as the Province Fraternity Education Officer. The chapter enjoyed attending the event and looks forward to the next Province Workshop. [Read more...]

Auditorium seats at Old Bayou.Chapter hosts Haunted House at the old Skene High School
On the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday around Halloween 2008, the chapter hosted its annual Haunted House fundraiser at the old Skene High School (also called Old Bayou Academy) at Skene, Mississippi.  The theme centered around a medical research facility and was sponsored by Domino's Pizza and Red Bull.  The fundraiser was very successful for the chapter, and proved to be a good diversion for several hundred people throughout Bolivar County, Mississippi.  It was also very successful in building strong bonds of brotherhood among those who worked in the Haunted House to make it successful.  The Haunted House proved to be a great experience for learning the importance of leadership and good positive interactions with others to work toward a common goal.  The entire experience was a meaningful one to all the volunteers and brothers, and the experience from the haunted house itself was one of good frights and chills.  The chapter looks forward to planning next year's haunted house at Skene's old high school building. [Read more...]

Brother Waters dunks Brother Wojcik.Chapter probationary class hosts dunking booth
On Tuesday, October 7, 2008, the probationary class hosted a dunking booth fundraiser on the Delta State University Quadrangle.  Several balls were thrown, and a few landed perfectly on the target in order to dunk several excited volunteers, such as Brothers John Wojcik and Chris Hartfield.  The event was very successful in terms of getting the letters out in the open and having a lot of fun on an otherwise dreary day.  Everyone involved seemed to have a very good time on the quad that day, dunking their professors and classmates.  It was a great experience for the probationary members, learning through direct application how to spearhead an event like this and make it come out successfully. [Read more...]

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