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Frank Miles, Tattler Editor
frank@sinfoniantattler.com
Scott Erb, Tattler Staff
scott@sinfoniantattler.com
Phil Wilson, Tattler Staff
phil@sinfoniantattler.com
Tommy House, Tattler Webmaster
tommy@sinfoniantattler.com
Not Pictured:
Travis Bryant, Tattler Staff
travis@sinfoniantattler.com
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The Downbeat
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Frank
Miles, Tattler
Editor
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GO TROY!!!!!
In case you haven’t heard, our beloved Trojans won the
Sun Belt Conference with their victory over Florida International and are
bound for the New Orleans Bowl! For information on tickets and hotel
accommodations, click HERE. Hope to see you there where the football is good,
the food is even better and the music is the best!
In case you missed Homecoming ’06, the Tattler was there
and we’ll bring the memories to you in words and pictures. We’ll also tell
you where the Travelin’ Kirbys
are headed this time and take another trip Down Memory Lane.
And we invite you to the Province 34 Workshop in
January. A very special presentation will be made in Tuscaloosa that weekend that you won’t
want to miss. We would love to see record numbers of alumni at the
workshop. Come, make merry and rekindle the old flame of Sinfonia! Happy holidays to all!
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Homecoming
Recapitulation
Phil Wilson, Tattler Staff
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As
the old saying goes, “it was the best of times,
it was the worst of times.” Oh heck, who am I kidding,
it was the freaking best of times. Homecoming 2006 at Troy will definitely go down in my
books as one of the best. With all of the fun, food and festivities to
partake in, there is no way that anyone could say that they weren’t proud
to be a Trojan.
Although most of us music people like to say that the
music was the thing to come out and see, we know that the football team strutted their stuff in Trojan style. There were bleak
moments during the game when it seemed that Troy had lost their momentum, but the
final score is what counts and with the score of 42-28, the Trojans
claimed victory. Go Trojans!
The legendary Sound of the South came through in true
form, as they always do, with an energy-filled pre-game concert for the
alumni in front of Long Hall before their parade to the stadium. This was
the first opportunity for many alumni to see the new uniform and hear the
show. Kudos to Mr. Ralph Ford, along with Dr. Mark Walker and the other
SOTS staff, for such an awesome show.
The alumni turned out this year and we had one fine alumni half-time show. Under the field direction of
Don Aplin, the alumni SOTS “put the hay in the
barn.” There is a rush of adrenaline through the body when one steps onto
the field to perform. Marching bass drum this year brought back tons of
memories of my glory days in the band. Those were the days.
Homecoming always brings out some famous people. Well,
not Hollywood famous but definitely Troy-Vegas famous. While at Troy, I always
heard these names of brothers who in one way or another left a legacy
behind. This year I shook the hands of people whose names I had heard for
years like… Kelly Witcher, Mark Van Landingham, Bradley Grantham and many others. I gotta say that it finally feels great to have a name
with a face. Hail Sinfonia!
My homecoming activities concluded with a circle up
and singing with the active brothers. It is amazing how that many people
can still get together and sing without practice and sound as amazing as
we did. I don’t think I can ever hear enough of Hail Sinfonia.
Especially the part the says “May Phi Mu Alpha ever reign.”
Well
that is a wrap on this homecoming. Hope to see you all at Homecoming
2007!
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Homecoming 2006 Photo Slide Show
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Click to view presentation…
(large file please
allow time to load)
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Notes in the Key of Troy
Lance Holman,
Iota Nu Alumni Relations Officer
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American
Composers’ Concert
Our American Composers’ Concert for this semester will
be on Nov. 28. It will include a great selection of songs from the Civil
War era to present day. Scott Sexton, our chapter’s music director, has
done a remarkable job putting this concert together. Due to Troy University overbooking our
original location for the concert we had to move it to a sound studio
downtown. For directions or questions e-mail me at Grasshopper386@yahoo.com.
Advancing Music
in America
A few weeks ago we traveled to the middle school here
in Troy
and performed our ACC for the band along with some of our brotherhood
songs and instrumental pieces. Never before have I seen a group of young
kids so captivated and attentive. Generally speaking middle school kids
can be very hard to get quiet and focused. But they all stood and
listened. They really enjoyed the show, especially Vive L’Amour. They liked it so much that they asked us for
an encore after we were done. I hope our efforts inspired some of them to
become better musicians and enjoy a more broad selection of music.
Next week, Phi Mu Alpha and
Sigma Alpha Iota here in Troy
are going to go caroling at a nursing home. I hope that it brings a
little bit of enjoyment into their hearts this Christmas season. I know
what it can be like in nursing homes from seeing my grandfather in one. I
hope it will take their minds off some of the things they may worry
about.
Passing on our
Teachings
On November 20th, we initiated nine new
members into the probationary process. They all have a lot of potential.
I hope that they have as much fun during their probationary process as I
did.
BrasherFest
BrasherFest was a huge
success this year. I want to thank all my brothers and the Alumni who
made it possible. It was nice to talk to some of the Alumni who we had
not seen in awhile and meet some others that we had never seen before.
Thanks again and I’m looking forward to next year’s fifth annual BrasherFest.
Iota Nu Chapter
Officers
President – Martin Sager
Vice President – Jamie Gray
Treasurer – Lance Holman
Secretary – Chris Hall
Alumni Relations Officer – Lance Holman
F.E.O. – Jamie Gray
Warden – Aaron Slayback
Historian – Robert Lee
Music Director – Scott Sexton
Faculty Advisors – Dr. John Jinright,
Ray Smith
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Down Memory
Lane with Justin Singleton, IN ‘97
Phil Wilson, Tattler
Staff
 I
have never really been a very nostalgic person, but as I am approaching
my 29th birthday I have suddenly become so. I have recently
come in contact with many of my former friends and brothers from Troy State and it has been an
overwhelming feeling of joy and sorrow at the same time. I was approached
by my pledge brother and former roommate Phil Wilson to write a little
something about my experience as a brother in PMA. I am not very good
with words so of course what you are reading took a very long time, so
please excuse the grammar as not to destroy my self esteem. There are
hundreds of memories that I have from my days as a brother in Phi Mu Alpha and I would hate to waste your time with
things that are probably only significant to me or only a few people.
One thing I would like to share is the fact that Troy State and the Fraternity changed
my life totally and for the better I might add. I can remember the first
day I came in contact with Phi Mu Alpha. I had
just arrived in Troy
in the Fall of ’96 and while taking a walk on campus I heard a wall of
sound come from the south side of the campus. Trying to satisfy my
curiosity, I suddenly became one of those people who “hang out” on the
hill at the band practice field. As practice finished, I ran into someone
who looked familiar to me from my old home town of Atmore. Everybody knows Chuck! Chuck
quickly began introducing me to people in band and I found my place. This
chance meeting changed my life forever. I met new friends. I joined
collegiate singers and the Sound of the South and I began pledging PMA.
The brothers of PMA made me realize that even though we all are different
and come from all walks of life, there is one
thing that we all have in common: MUSIC. I thank God for my time at Troy and for all of
the people that I met and all of the life lessons that I learned.
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Province Workshop 2007
John Mitcham, Province 34 Collegiate Province
Representative
It is my sincere hope that many of you will consider
joining us for the 2007 Province 34 Workshop. This year’s event will be
held on the weekend of January 12-14 on the campus of the University of Alabama
in Tuscaloosa.
Highlights will include the Initiation Ritual, a music workshop held by
Iota Nu alumnus Rob McFarland, a professional hypnotist and a visit by
National Collegiate Representative Micah White.
In addition, Iota Nu alumni Frank Miles (Province
Alumni Coordinator) and Scott Erb
(Province Deputy Governor) will be speaking on the nature of alumni
involvement and a very special award will be presented to one of Alabama’s more
high-profile Sinfonians.
The culmination of the weekend’s event will be a
spectacular recital on Saturday night at 7 p.m. Each chapter in the state
will perform, as well as the combined chorus of Province 34. Please make
plans to attend the weekend’s festivities, or at least the Saturday
evening recital. I will provide final details, including a schedule of
events, in the next edition of the Tattler. Until then, feel free to
contact me at john_C_mitcham@hotmail.com
for details. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for January 12-14!
Sincerely,
John C Mitcham
CPR
Iota Nu ‘02
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Q&A: Brian
Smith, IN ‘05
Scott Erb, Tattler Staff
 Tat: How has the fraternity impacted
your life?
Brian: The fraternity has had a wonderful
impact on my life from fellowship to musical opportunities.
Tat: How does it feel to be a brother with your dad
and uncle?
Brian: Not every band member in any
organization is able to share a wonderful experience with their
family. It is a wonderful feeling.
Tat: Were they a factor in deciding to pledge?
Brian: No, I wanted to pledge because of my
love for music.
Tat: What is your current position and where?
Brian: Senior Web Coordinator at Troy University.
Tat: How did this come about? How long have you been there?
Brian: I had been looking for a job in web
design, and I got lucky that this job became available.
Tat: How does it feel to live in Troy and work for your Alma Mater?
Brian: I have been around the university ever
since my family and I moved to Troy
in the late 80’s. It is a great
feeling to grow up around the university practically your whole life, and
then be able to give back to it.
Tat: What is your career goal?
Brian: Simple - to be successful and happy.
Tat: How has your term in Phi Mu
Alpha help you grow as an individual? Help your career grow?
Brian: Being in Phi Mu
Alpha has increased my knowledge of music, as well as broadened and
strengthened many friendships.
Tat: Any involvement with the chapter? How are you
able to help them?
Brian: I am currently the web master for the
Iota Nu chapter of Phi Mu Alpha. I will be working with active brothers
as well as alumni to create a place where we can all communicate with one
another.
Tat: What would you like to say to all the current
brothers and alumni out there?
Brian: All Hail!
Tat: Any shout-outs?
Brian: My big brother Mark Turner and my
little brother Scott Sexton.
(Brian Douglas
Smith graduated from Charles Henderson High School,
Troy, Ala., in May 2000. Brian attended Troy University and graduated Spring
2006. His B.S. degree is in Design, Technology, Industry / Photography.
Brian is currently employed at Troy
University as
Senior Web Coordinator.
Brian is a
member of Alpha Lambda Delta, Gamma Beta Phi and Delta Epsilon Iota
academic honor societies. He is also an alumni member in Phi Mu Alpha National Music Fraternity and Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary
Band Fraternity. Brian works as a free lance musician, web designer,
and professional photographer.)
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And the Kirby Mission Continues…
Scott Erb, Tattler Staff
 “Who
would've ever thought that the whole reason I even joined the band in
junior high school was for me (and my brothers) to travel the world and
tell other people about Jesus?” Dennis Kirby said. “It still amazes me
what God has done with my life since I got saved April 26, 1989.”
Dennis (IN '97) is off to Guatemala, Dec. 28 – Jan. 6,
as a member of the Metro Big Band, an “all-star” jazz band of Christian
musicians, put together by composer/arranger Camp Kirkland. Originally
the short-term mission trip was to take the band to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
But, due to some unavoidable logistics concerns, the
trip has turned its focus to the people of Guatemala. Joining Dennis is
Craig Summerlin, the sound man (and orchestra
trumpeter) from his church in Hazlehurst, Ga., and a friend
and former student at Jeff
Davis High
School, Brandon Herrington, who'll play
piano.
“I'm so excited that Craig and Brandon are going with
us,” said Dennis. “It's their first mission trip, and I know God has such
awesome plans for us! You never forget your first mission trip.”
Dennis' first mission trip was the initial trip to Havana, Cuba that his other brothers
Steve and Doc also went on. Although Dennis has not been back to Havana because the
Global Missions Project has planned those trips during marching season, “just
like Gen. McArthur said... I shall return!”
If any brothers feel led to
contribute to God's work in foreign mission work thru Global Missions
Project and Dennis, please contact him at bassbone8track@hotmail.com.
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Nicky Bull’s Wedding Info:
Dec. 16, 1pm
Ozark Baptist
Church
Ozark, AL
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