The
Downbeat
Frank Miles, Tattler Staff
Before we whet
your appetite for the fruits of our labor in the latest Sinfonian
Tattler, we'd like to take a moment to, well, brag! Here's what
some of our readers have been saying about our beloved Tat:
WOW! Keep up the good work. This
thing is awesome! - Rich Crosby, National President
I think this informative site
is going to be a great hit for alumni. - Phil Wilson
I like it! Thanks for taking the
initiative. I look forward to reading it and interacting with my
long lost brothers. - Charles Rawls
I stumbled upon your site this
past week and must say I was glad to see the efforts being made
to reconnect our alumni to the Fraternity. I hope many more chapters
follow your lead in the future and put forth this kind of effort.
- Derek Danilson, National Executive Committeeman, Alumni Affairs
Committeeman
Fantastic! LOVED your editorial.
- Stanton Kelley
The Tattler staff would like to express our most heartfelt thanks
for the kind words and encouragement. We’ll do our best to
make sure you keep receiving a quality product that will, hopefully,
rally your heart and soul to pick up the baton of Sinfonia!
Speaking of
batons, it’s time for the Downbeat. This month in the Tattler,
meet the newest Sinfonians who will carry the torch for Iota Nu.
You’ll be particularly interested in who passed the torch
to one of them.
Also, meet the
man at the top of the ladder in Province 34, learn about songwriting
from a legend, find out when and where you can gather with alumni
from across the state, hear from the chapter’s alumni secretary,
honor a long-time faculty advisor and take another trip Down Memory
Lane (this one’s a little different – one of our taller
brothers chooses the philosophical path). Let the April issue of
the Sinfonian Tattler rain down!
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Treading
the Pathways Across the Generations
Scott Erb & Frank Miles,
Tattler
Staff
Initiation
is a special time for each man that has made the climb up the mountain
of probationary membership. It’s particularly special for
a man to see his son at the top of that mountain.
Chris Jones
and Bryan Smith are two of this year’s class of initiates
and part of a much more exclusive fraternity – one in which
members can call their dads “brother.”
Chris’s
new brother, Charlie, was in the cloistral room as his son tread
the same paths Charlie had tread many years ago. “Seeing my
dad there probably meant the most to me,” said Chris. When
it was all over, Chris had to stop and collect his thoughts for
a moment.
“Wow,
this overwhelming,” he said. “Hard to capture what emotions
I am going through.”
While Charlie’s
pledging experience was different than Chris’s, he knew exactly
what Chris was going through.
“Very
deep emotions,” Charlie said. “Sort of heartache, mixed
emotions really. I’m glad that he chose to pledge.”
Charlie pledged
Phi Mu Alpha because he was involved in music at Troy and he knew
Sinfonia would further develop his talents. “My profession
and love is music and Phi Mu Alpha can help with both,” he
said. Chris loves music, too, but he also thinks Sinfonia might
just bring the two of them a little closer together.
“One of
the reasons I pledged was to be involved in something that meant
so much to my dad,” Chris said. “Now (it’s) something
that means so much to me.”
Chris says Brother
Dad may have used the term “worm” a time or two, but
he never made Chris squirm. Actually, Charlie made Chris stand still
for one memorable moment on that special night.
“I was
truly excited that my dad pinned me with his fraternity pin. That
is something that I will cherish always.”
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Iota
Nuws: Class of 2005
Scott Erb, Tattler Staff
Gentlemen, open your ears and hear the music of Sinfonia grow ever
louder. A new crop of Sinfonians has been cultivated to answer the
call. The Iota Nu Chapter is proud to receive six new brothers into
its family. We hope that these new initiates will pick up where
the older brothers and alumni have left off and take the chapter
on and ever upward so when they leave the chapter, they can say
they left it better then when they found it. Isn't that what we
expect from our guys? Isn't that what you expected from yourself
when you were an active collegiate? Let's help these manly musicians
and musicianly men journey on the path of Ossian and Orpheus. Come
brothers and welcome these men:
Ben Burke
Chris Jones**
Paco Fransisco Negron
Rob Scheifers
Aaron Slayback
Bryan Smith**
** Sons of Sinfonians (Charlie Jones, James Smith)
Click
here for pics of the new class and much more!
Updated
Denisonpalooza Info
Scott Erb, Tattler Staff
It's getting
close. We have less than 30 days until we honor the man who has
done so much for us. This is the time you put it on your calendar,
dust off your old suit or tux, and jump in the car with your family
and head to Troy, Alabama. This might be the last chance we have
as a brotherhood to thank Dr. Denison for all he has done for music
and Phi Mu Alpha. I know I will be there to shake hands with the
man who has helped me grow as a student and as a Sinfonian.
When: Saturday, April 30th, 2005, 6:00 p.m.
Where: Adams Center Ballroom
Troy University, Troy, Alabama
Cost: $30/couple, $18/single.
Please send checks and RSVP to:
Phi Mu Alpha
TSU Box 820070
Troy State University
Troy, AL 36082
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Down
Memory Lane
Joey Mitchell - IN '96
I had the opportunity
to attend a community band concert recently in Statesboro, Ga. The
group is called Oasis. It’s an acronym… for what I have
no idea, but that’s neither here nor there right now. I sat
with Matt Olsen on my right, his three daughters in seats nearby,
and my girlfriend Mandy on my left. We were all there because Matt’s
wife Carie was performing that afternoon. During the concert (which
was excellent by the way) I began thinking about the true meaning
of being a Sinfonian. I thought briefly about how many current or
future Sinfonians were in the room, but soon returned to listening
to the concert.
After the concert,
one of Matt’s former drum majors came over to say hello. I
had met Cyril before. He’s not much of a Halo player, but
he’s definitely got a good laugh when you melee him in the
back when he’s not looking. Anyway, he’s holding in
his hand a copy of Themes for Brotherhood. We talked for a short
time in very vague terms about how things were going. I asked where
his pin was. He told me they only have certain hours during which
they have to be worn. I reassured him that no matter how hard it
got, that it would be worth it in the end and he should stick to
it. Being in public, and with him having no real way to verify my
brotherly status, we moved on in the conversation.
Now that I think
more deeply about it, I wonder how often a simple sentence in passing
has a profound effect on things in the future. Could this moment
of vague conversation between two nearly strangers have an impact
at some point in his pledge quarter? If so, what about someone I
know better? Could the way I handle correcting a sixth grade clarinet
player missing a key signature today cause them to rethink pursuing
music in college?
Perhaps yes…
perhaps no… perhaps there is no answer. I suppose it all goes
back to something Michael Bird taught me during my pledge quarter.
“Always remember that you are only one of many, yet a thousand
eyes are upon you and will judge the whole fraternity by your deeds,
words, and character.”
OAS
AAS LLS
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Q
& A: Tony Cowan, Province Governor
Frank Miles, Tattler
Staff
In late fall
of 1992, a young man by the name of Tony Cowan became a Sinfonian.
Little did he know then that he would one day follow in the footsteps
of a legend. The Tattler is proud to introduce you to the governor
of Province 34.
Tat: First of all, when did you become a Sinfonian and why
did you do it?
Tony: I was initiated into the Lambda Omicron Chapter
on November 9, 1992. I joined the fraternity not really knowing
much about what it had to offer. I was a music major, had a burning
desire to be a great musician, and was pouring all the time and
energy I had into music and the music department. I suppose, I thought
joining the fraternity was the right thing to do (I'm glad I did…..).
Tat: You've been a part of some chapter building and rebuilding
projects in your time as a Sinfonian. Share with us some of your
memories from Lambda Omicron and Epsilon Delta.
Tony: Most of my memories from Lambda Omicron are social
ones (there is one story about a birthday ritual involving a duck
pond but I'll save that for a another time over milk and cookies….
); however, I did serve as FEO/Warden my sophomore year and I instigated
the first Ritual in Livingston since the 1970's (Thanks O Phi).
In relation to Epsilon Delta, one of my fondest “rebuilding”
memories occurred at the colony pinning ceremony. We were in need
of a few extra warm bodies to increase our numbers. We created invitations
to join the colony and had each colony member pass out 5 invitations
to men who loved music. Four new guys responded to the invitations
and showed up to what they thought was an interest meeting. Turns
out (unbeknownst to them), they were pinned shortly after their
arrival (they made some of the best brothers we had).
Tat: What is the current state of Province 34?
Tony: Province 34 is in a state of transition and fraternal
growth. We have had a rocky road over the past three years. We lost
our governor, Jim Patrenos to surgical complications, and we have
lost 2 chapters to hazing. Despite these losses, the chapters in
Province 34 are beginning to open up to one another and experience
brotherhood on a new level. We have started the Jim Patrenos Travel
Trophy competition, as well as creating several new positions on
the Province Council including: Province Alumni Coordinator (PAC),
second ACPR, Province Music Director, and several new teams/committees.
I have opened up the PC meetings to any brother who wants to attend
(voting privileges have not changed from the 2 votes per chapter).
We have increased our workshop from 1.5 days to 2.5 days (we have
had national officers attend the last 3 workshops) and we are about
to conduct the first-annual Sinfonia Slash social event April 9
in Birmingham (alumni are invited and encouraged to come).
Tat: Any plans for province expansion?
Tony: There are always plans for province expansion.
The Province Council created a Colony Development team this past
year whose sole purpose is to support colonies through all phases
of development. This includes the pre-colony phase and outreach
to identify future colony possibilities. This team works with colonies
through both phases of the process and continues to assist them
during their first year as a chapter during the transition from
colony to chapter.
Tat: What is being done on the province level to bring alumni
back to Sinfonia?
Tony: Speaking as an alumnus, I feel the fraternity
overall has not done well in keeping its alumni involved. From a
province stand point, we have created the Province Alumni Coordinator
position (Jim Brasher). Jim has been charged with assembling a mailable
list of all province alumni and to complete one mailing per year.
Additionally, the council approved a budget of $150 for PAC mailings.
We have also opened up the workshop, province council meetings,
and province functions to alumni as well. I am encouraging alumni
secretaries to obtain current alumni contact info from their institution's
alumni affairs department and notify them of current events. There
are also plans to incorporate alumni web pages into the province
website.
Tat: Is there alumni representation on the province council?
Tony: There is alumni representation (PAC) on the province
council; however, at this time the PAC, like the other province
officers, is not entitled to a vote. This question brings up an
interesting point… I personally feel it would be beneficial
to allow the PAC to vote. This will be addressed at the upcoming
PC meeting.
On a side note, we have had alumni representation at every province
function over the last 3 years (usually two or more alumni at each
function).
Tat: What is your take on the development of an alumni association
in Province 34?
Tony: I am completely in support of having an alumni
association in the province. As a matter of fact, we have talked
about having two associations. One would be based out of Birmingham
for the northern-most chapters and one would be in Montgomery for
the southern-most chapters. At this point, we simply need leadership
and man power.
Tat: There's been a lot of talk concerning Pi Theta. Many of our
readers aren't even aware of Pi Theta's existence. Can you tell
us, from the beginning, the story of the Pi Theta chapter and set
the record straight?
Tony: Pi Theta was chartered at UAB on April, 19, 2002,
under Dr. Patrenos. The brothers at Pi Theta displayed a strong
love for music. The 2003 workshop with President Rich Crosby was
hosted by Pi Theta with success. Unfortunately, the chapter was
expelled for hazing in late 2004.
Tat: What is the Mills Music Mission? Can alumni in Province
34 get involved? How?
Tony: The Mills Music Mission (MMM) is the national
philanthropy of Sinfonia. Ossian E. Mills gave selflessly of his
own time and effort to uplift his fellow man with music. In following
his example, the MMM is a community outreach program geared to take
music to those unfortunate people in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted
living facilities, etc. in an effort to uplift them (enriching the
human spirit). Alumni most certainly CAN get involved. Groups of
alumni can perform their own MMM or better yet contact a local chapter
and help them with a MMM.
Tat: What has the National Headquarters been doing to involve
alumni?
Tony: Lyrecrest is realizing its fallacy in having
poor alumni relations. There are several new governors on the council
(including me) who are pointing out this short-coming. They recently
created the Director of Alumni Affairs position (Dan Krueger) who
actually has a number of tools/resources available for alumni secretaries.
He is also charged with providing PACs with resources to assist
in their duties. Lyrecrest has also acknowledged/ratified the position
of PAC and has developed a Province Alumni Coordinator's manual,
as well.
Tat: What would you like to say to alumni in our province
to pique their interest in today's Sinfonia?
Tony: Brothers, we are living the New Sinfonia. There
are many exciting things happening in the province. Times have changed.
The province is more open than ever to quality alumni involvement.
The province leadership is sincere in trying to open our arms and
embrace those alumni who have felt left behind or orphaned and making
them feel like part of the brotherhood again.. Furthermore, I believe
Sinfonia is a life long experience, not a temporary, less fulfilling,
one that ends with graduation. If we desire to make a brother who
will choose to continue on the path of Orpheus through alumni involvement,
then, while a collegiate, he will need to witness the unique sense
of brotherhood shared by alumni Sinfonians. Brotherhood is synergetic.
If we as Sinfonian alumni get re-involved now, the ranks of involved
alumni will grow exponentially. As will the Sinfonian Experience.
Once a Sinfonian, Always a Sinfonian, Long Live Sinfonia!
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Alumni
Association Feedback
Scott Erb, Tattler Staff
Wouldn't it be great to see your old brothers more often than Homecoming?
Wouldn't it be nice to make a difference in music on a grander scale?
Wouldn't it be nice to come together with gentlemen you don't even
know and bond under the call of music?
If Sinfonia is still in your heart, would you be willing to spend
four Saturdays a year to discuss ideas too exalted for the small
talk of the streets? Gentlemen, the Tattler wants to know.
We want to know what you think about starting an alumni association.
The band has an alumni chapter. Kappa Kappa Psi has an alumni chapter.
Why doesn't Iota Nu have one? It's a great way to help our chapter
and our Alma Mater. It's a great way to help future Sinfonians with
scholarships, books, music, ideas and discussions. We have a chance
to display the three powers of the fraternity - man power, music
power and money power. No one is better equipped with all three
than the alumni of Iota Nu.
It all depends on how much you are willing to sacrifice for the
greater good of Sinfonia. We all took an oath back when we were
initiated for this chapter and this fraternity. Let's live up to
that oath. Let it not just be a college thing. Remember how you
felt after initiation. We can relive that feeling - the feeling
that as Sinfonians we were better men! We are asking for your help
on this. If we receive enough feedback, we will get the ball rolling
on an alumni association. I am looking forward to this gentleman.
Let's make it happen.
(http://www.sinfoniantattler.com/survey.html)
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Sinfonia
Slash Update
Birmingham will
be a place of food, fun and fellowship for alumni and collegiate
Sinfonians from across the state on Saturday, April 9. The first
annual Spring Slash will kickoff at 1 p.m. at Oak Mountain State
Park. Bring your family and your appetite to the cookout and enjoy
a few games as well. It has even been rumored that there might be
some singing!
If you have
any questions or need directions, you can e-mail Kevin Harris at
Kevin.d.harris@ua.edu
or Tony Cowan at PG34@sinfonia.org.
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SEUS
Honors Dr. William R. Denison
(Photos)
Scott Erb, Tattler Staff
We just wanted
to show you pics of Dr. William R. Denison being honored at the
SEUS Festival this past February.
Click
Here for Pictures
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Songwriting
Sinfonians Take Note... and Soon!
Travis Bryant, Tattler Staff
It's not too late if you live near Troy and have the talent of putting
tunes to paper.
It's true that the Songwriter's Workshop starts April 5. But a phone
call to the University on Monday, April 4, confirmed two open seats.
The workshop
is being led by country music legend Don Reid, lead singer of the
famed Statler Brothers! Reid's credentials are as golden as the
13 gold albums he has hanging on his walls, right next to the two
double platinum discs and one triple platinum effort. All this precious
metal makes Reid and the Statlers the winningest country group of
the last century, hauling in more Music City News awards and Country
Music Association awards than any other group.
Since retiring
in 2002, Reid has taken his skills and experience to the classroom.
This week Reid will meet with aspiring songwriters individually
and as a group. He says he'll not only cover the basics and mechanics
of songwriting, but also he'll give advice on battling the music
industry and offer tips on how to get your tunes into the ears of
the right people.
There is a general
assembly Q&A with Reid Tuesday, April 5, at 7 p.m. in the Claudia
Crosby Theater. Then Reid will meet individually with folks from
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. everyday through April 7. There are only
24 slots available, 10 of which are for old-folk alumni/general
public like us.
If more than
24 people sign up, they'll hold a drawing after the general meeting
on the 5th and the names pulled out of the hat will get a face-to-face
sit-down with Don Reid.
So if you have the time and want to throw your name into the hat
call 334-670-3322 as soon as you wake up tomorrow morning. They
just might let you in.
And tell Don
the folks at the Sinfonian Tattler say 'Hi'!
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Letter
From The Alumni Secretary
Jacob Rasberry, Alumni Secretary Iota Nu
Alumni,
My name is Jacob
Rasberry. I am the new Alumni Secretary here at Iota Nu, and I would
just like to start by telling you a few things about myself.
I crossed in
spring of 2003. I’m 20 years old and a senior music education
major. I was warden for the chapter last year and the year before
that I was the chairman of the Final Showdown committee. I graduated
from Thorsby High School and I live in Jemison, Ala., which is in
Chilton County (peaches, if you couldn’t remember where it
was).
There are a
few things that I would like to do as Alumni Secretary:
1. First would
be alumni awareness. I want all the alumni of the chapter to know
what is going on around here. The Tattler staff does a great job,
but it is always good to hear from people that are still in school.
I will be having a column in the Tattler every month letting you
guys know what’s going on from the inside.
2. I want more alumni participation. I will make a giant effort
to notify everyone about any events that we will be having in the
next year. I also would like to see if there is any interest in
having another alumni reunion other than the one at SEUS.
3. I know there is some interest in starting an alumni association
for the Montgomery area. I want to be very active in helping this
along. I believe this would be a very beneficial action for the
entire fraternity.
4. I also want to put out some “reminders” of what we
stand for. I know that after years of being outside the collegiate
fraternity, sometimes it is hard to live for what we stand for when
we aren’t reminded.
5. Lastly, I want to get an updated list of all alumni contact information.
It would be great to get everybody signed up on MyDesktop on the
national Web site. For those of you who don’t know, MyDesktop
is a resource tool for all brothers that helps keep tabs on where
the brothers get to after they graduate.
So here is what
I am asking from you. My email address is jacob.rasberry@gmail.com.
My AIM screen name is battlekoalatsu. My phone
number is 205-217-6023. My mailing address is 411
Jane Road Apt. 1 Troy, AL 36079.
By any means necessary please send me the following information:
Name
Physical Address
Mailing Address
Phone Number
E-mail Address
Any of the same contact information for other brothers you know
Anything that you would like to see out of me
I also urge
you to go onto www.sinfonia.org
and sign up for MyDesktop and update your information. If you need
help getting in, I can get your member number for you, or just help
you along. Don’t hesitate to call me for anything.
Here’s
to a great year in Sinfonia.
OAS
AAS LLS!
Jacob
Rasberry
Alumni Secretary
IN ‘03
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Battle
of Bands Competition
We just wanted
to remind you that The Battle of Bands will take place on Thursday,
April 14th, at Harvey's in Troy, Alabama. If you have any questions,
please contact Sean Weiler at sweiler@troyst.edu.
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"High
Notes"
Here you will find all the latest announcements from weddings to
births.
Weddings:
Scott Grossman
- April 23
Scott Snell - May 14 (Foley, AL)
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Link
Dump
Travis Bryant, Tattler Staff
Welcome
back faithful readers! Let's take a deep dive into this month's
dump!
Wonder Twin
powers... activate! Ok, so maybe Zan and Jan aren't here, but they
would definitely have to tip the hats to the power of the people
that participate at this site! It's all about activism.
Check out www.thenationalantemproject.org.
Here they give you steps, tips, charts, supplies, advice, phone
numbers, etc. Everything you need to become a costumed superhero
of music education. With this site secured in your utility belt
you will be able to get in contact with elected officials and community
leaders to tell them how important music education is. Up, Up and
Away!
Next we stop
by a site with the same purpose as all of us here, "to advance
music in Americas." www.Subsurfacemusic.org
is a site started by a Phi Mu Alpha brother who wants to make a
difference. Once there you can surf posts and reviews as well as
contribute your own. So stop by check it out and tell them the Tat
sent you.
And on our way
out of the dump this month we give you – the random minuet
generator?
That's right! Dice aren't just for gambling and drinking games anymore.
So check out http://www.worldvillage.com/jchuang/Music/Mozart/mozart.cgi
and grab your own set of dice (or use the built in number generator
here).
Then follow the steps to plunk out your own mathematically correct
Mozart-esque minuet!
Man if composition class had only been this simple!
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Troy University Happenings and Events
Scott Erb, Tattler
Staff
•
General Info:
Do you want to know more about what is going on at your university,
your alma mater? Click on the following link to subscribe to many
listservs to keep you updated on events, athletics, radio and much
more.
https://tsutech.troyst.edu/cgi-bin/dlentry.pl
• TROY Athletics:
Click
on http://www.troytrojans.com/
for more information about schedules and times..
• Activities:
For more information about the concert or other student activities,
please click on www.troy.edu/uac
.
• “Sound of the South”:
New Sound of the South Website: Its finally here, the “Sound
of the South” website (www.soundofthesouth.org)
Check it out for the latest updates and events happening with the
Sound of the South. Also, if you haven’t already, click on
the forum and communicate with alumni and current members of the
SOTS. It’s free to use and a great way to have healthy and
live conversations about all topics that interest you.
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