Sigma Alpha Iota, International Music Fraternity, was organized in 1903 "to form chapters of music students and musicians who shall by their influence and their musical interest uphold the highest ideals of a music education; to raise the standard of productive musical work among the women students of colleges, conservatories, and universities."
SAI is a Greek fraternity for women. It is an organization whose purposes are to foster interest in music and to promote social contact among persons sharing an interest in music. SAI organizes its group life specifically to promote competence and achievement with music. SAI changed from a "sorority" to a "fraternity" in 1926. Fraternity comes from the Latin noun, fraternitas, which refers to both men and women. While SAI only allows women as members, it is a fraternity because it is based upon a single academic discipline. It has been used by all music fraternities for years.
As of August 2007, there were 107,902 initiated members worldwide, 212 active college chapters, 120 active alumnae chapters, and one international chapter.
Vita Brevis, Ars Longa
Life is short, but art is long.
Privileges of Membership
-To have contact with musicians all over the United States
-To make friendships with many Sigma Alpha Iotas who share the same ideals
-To be recognized and esteemed by members of all other national fraternities as a "fellow Greek"
-To be encouraged to seek the highest goals in personal development and professional stature
-To wear the badge as an introduction to all Sigma Alpha Iota college and alumnae chapters everywhere
-To have the opportunity at Province Days and National Conventions to broaden friendships to include members from other chapters
-To belong to a closely-knit organization whose province and national officers visit chapters to bring assistance and stimulate maintenance of the fraternity's high standards of musicianship and scholarship, and acquaintance with the broad scope of the fraternity
-To find opportunities for leadership training in the chapter guided by national policies and instructional materials
-To meet and know the nationally recognized musicians and supporters of music who are honorary members
-To participate in fraternity projects - scholarships, promotion of American music through the Inter-American Music Awards program, assistance in rehabilitation through music both in this country and in foreign countries, and other nationally organized and recognized endeavors of SAI.
*from the National web page