Sinfonians in San Diego

Meeting This Sunday @ 7 PM!

2008-04-26T14:58:00.000-07:00

Greetings all. Just a brief note that our meeting will be bumped up one hour to a 7 PM start time to accommodate the amount of business that we have with elections. Make sure everyone knows and attends - this is an important meeting that will shape the future of our chapter!

American Composers Concert Tomorrow Night!

2008-04-10T09:52:00.001-07:00

Hey guys, believe it or not, the time is here and we are set to take the stage at Smith Recital Hall on Friday, April 11th @ 7 pm. The hall opens on Friday @ 4 pm, with a full runthrough starting around 5. The concert will last about an hour, and there will be no intermission. Admission is free, so bring as many warm bodies as you can.

Tau Beta Sigma has graciously offered to provide refreshments before the event. SAI is having a rehearsal tonight @ 8 pm in the band room; we are invited to attend. Please look at Ode and Brown Eyes before tomorrow night - it's going to be a great event!

Brass Rehearsal Thursday @ 6 pm

2008-03-25T10:37:00.000-07:00

Players in the brass choir for the Barber Adagio will meet in room 114 @ 6 pm on Thursday, March 27th to rehearse the piece. I know everyone will not be able to make it, but please try to come since it will be our only time to rehearse before Spring Break. Thanks!

Meeting this Friday @ 7 pm, Rehearsal to follow

2008-03-19T10:15:00.000-07:00

Just to get the news out there, the chapter voted to move this Sunday's meeting to Friday instead, mainly to avoid the Easter holiday. This means that the music rehearsal will be moved as well; we will rehearse directly after the meeting for about an hour. Also, I would like to stop by Woodstock's around 6 pm for some dinner; anyone care to join me? Text me if you are coming to dinner, or catch me in the Multimedia Lab in the Music building tomorrow.

Poem of the Day

2008-03-14T00:54:00.001-07:00

I know not the name of the star upon which I gaze,
nor the chemical composition or concentration of the haze
through which travel its immemorial rays
unmeasured by consciousness of days;
A maze of human affectation
maintained through map and constellation
gives this star an apropos appellation
which escapes me.
Its spectral variation notwithstanding
glimmers through the ozone, smog, and air
imparting grandiose visions
ephemeral and nebulous as the stellar nursery
from which it coalesced into being.
Its magnitude outshines the luminescence
of lighters, candles, lamps, fluorescent bulbs
granting dreams of four- and five-year-olds
and sharing secrets with observant seekers
intent on learning its significance in the cosmic sense of the word.
Boring.
I prefer to dwell instead
on the infinite spans separating our galaxies.
Perhaps its influence is strong.
Perhaps the distance is necessary.

Revised Start Time this Friday

2008-03-04T11:12:00.000-08:00

Call time is now 6 pm in the Green Room; our program begins at Collwood @ 6:30. Andy, this means the Candlelight quartet will get moved towards the end of the program.

Also, here are the "SDSU lyrics" substitutions for Red & Black:
•Replace verse 2's "Brotherhood of Phi Mu Alpha" with "Aztecs we of San Diego".
•Replace refrain's "Old Sinfonia" with "Montezuma" (the bass echo as well)

MMM This Friday!

2008-03-03T09:32:00.000-08:00

Here we go, gentlemen. The following is our set list for this Friday's Mission to Collwood. Call time @ the Green Room is 6:30; we will arrive @ Collwood around 7 pm and perform for around an hour.

Hail Sinfonia
The Red and Black (with SDSU lyrics)
Music in the Air
Bryan solo
Whiffenpoof (from memory?)
Gaudeamus Igitur (in English)
Night Shadows Falling
Songs Are Best at Candlelight (quartet: Andy, Kirk, Jesse, Jude)
Brothers, Sing On
On and Ever Upward
The Longest Time (optional)
Kirk solo
Jesse solo
A Serenade to a Girl (flower song)
Sinfonia Hymn (Let Each Man Take His Lot and Place)
America
A Sinfonian Anthem (All Hail)

Hepner Hall Sing Tonight!!!!

2008-02-29T11:05:00.000-08:00

Tonight we will be singing at the Hepner Hall. We are meeting in front of the music building at 7:30 and will begin singing at about 8:00. We are dressing in casual attire so wear your letters, bring your red books and be ready to sing.

Chamber Music Hero

2008-02-19T12:19:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have not seen it. Check this out and laugh.

http://news.yahoo.com/comics/foxtrot

Officer Meeting 2/19/08

2008-02-18T09:40:00.000-08:00

Officers are invited for some dinner at Kirk's place @ 6:30 pm Tuesday night, with a meeting to commence afterwards. Bring your own non-alcoholic beverage of choice; burgers & brats provided.

Woodstock's This Friday!

2008-02-12T14:32:00.000-08:00

This is the final rush event for Spring 2008! This invite-only dinner will begin at 7 pm, although members should plan to arrive at least 30 minutes in advance so we can secure seating for 20. Dress is casual, although slacks and a nice shirt would be a welcome sight. We will have dinner and depending on the volume there, we may drive back to SDSU to chat a bit in the Band Room. The event will run until at least 9 pm. See you there!

Poker Night Friday!

2008-02-04T21:57:00.000-08:00

It's that time again, and we're getting together for some no-limit action this Friday night at 7 PM in Room M-114. Bring a friend and some sheet music; we'll be singing and playing a few songs afterwards. This is our chance to invite promising young men into our fold, so let's not waste the opportunity! Thanks to Preston for getting flyers up today; they look great! But remember to talk the event up as well; more promotion equals more attendance. See you Friday!

Guitar Hero Friday!

2008-01-31T07:27:00.000-08:00

Because you demanded it! The most popular rush event in recent memory returns tomorrow night in Room 114! Action starts at 7 pm; set-up crew needs to arrive @ 6 pm. We will also have one copy of Rock Band to play as a alternate activity for more cooperative players. Make sure you tell everyone you know to come out Friday night for a great time. We will see if reigning champion Jesse Rogers can defend his title against a new batch of challengers! Rock on!

Workshop this Friday!

2008-01-22T18:43:00.000-08:00

Hey guys. We will be getting together this Friday (1/25) in the Band Room around 6:30 pm. Bring your Red Songbooks! Afterwards we will be hanging out at Ian's place. See you Friday, and please remember to wear pin attire during the day!

First Meeting 1/20, Building Day postponed to 1/27

2008-01-17T12:12:00.000-08:00

The spring semester is upon us! As we prepare to kick back into high gear, our building day originally scheduled for this Sunday (1/20) will be moved to next Sunday (1/27). We will still be meeting on Sunday at 8 pm in Room 261 for our first Spring 2008 chapter meeting. Be prepared for a longer meeting, we have several lengthy subjects to discuss. The proposed agenda is as follows:

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia – Epsilon Omicron
1/20/08 Meeting: Proposed Agenda

I. Call to Order/Roll Call
II. Approval of Agenda/Minutes
III. Officer Reports
IV. Old Business (Fall 2007 Review, SDSU Band Festival, SAI Joint Concert)
V. New Business (Delta Zeta Probationary Class, Parliamentary Committee, Donut Booth Schedule, Ritual Education, Music Rehearsals/Sectionals)
VI. Rehearsal – SS Page 51 "Farewell to You, My Brothers"
VII. Brother's Privilege
VIII. Adjournment

Officer Meeting 1/13/08

2008-01-06T09:15:00.000-08:00

Greetings all! With only two weeks of break left, it's time to get things rolling again. I had such an amazing time in Evansville this past week, and I hope to bring some of that brotherly spirit with me to the second half of this school year. I would like to take the officers out to dinner at Dave & Buster's in Mission Valley at 5 pm on Sunday, January 13th, then come back to SDSU for a meeting/agenda conference at 7 pm. The national spirit was incredible this last week as I joined voices with brothers from Arkansas, New York, Minnesota, Texas, and Florida, to name just a few. It really opened my eyes to the potential of our chapter and gave me a renewed sense of purpose. Officers please RSVP ASAP. Thanks, and I'm looking forward to a semester of fellowship in song.

Agenda 12/9/07

2007-12-09T15:40:00.000-08:00

Reminder: Please wear pin attire tonight.

I. Call to Order/Roll Call
II. Approval of Minutes/Agenda
III. Officer Reports
IV. Old Business (Casino Night Recap, Westwind Brass refreshments)
V. New Business (Holiday Roll Call, Building Day 1/20, Vocal Comp 1/28)
VI. Rehearsal ("The Longest Time")
VII. New Officer Installation (Warden, ARO)
VIII. Graduating Sinfonian Ceremony
IX. Brother's Privilege
X. Adjournment

Casino Night is a Hit!

2007-12-07T08:35:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all the hard work of the Delta Epsilon class and coordination of VP Ryan Payne, our Casino Night fundraiser last night was a success! We collected over $200 for our chapter, and the atmosphere of the event was very professional. Big thanks to Nick for keeping the drinks flowing, Jeff for dealing craps on ten minutes' notice, Aaron for bringing his talented father to play live piano for us, Drew and Andy for purchasing beverages, Quinto for procuring excellent tablecloths, Kevin for "encouraging" bets at my table, Bryan for his outstanding donation finds, Tristan for dealing blackjack, and Danny for helping set-up and break down the tables before and after the event.

Remember that Sunday (12/9) @ 8 pm is our last meeting for this semester; pin attire is appropriate, as we will be holding the Graduating Sinfonian ceremony for Nathan Fuhrer. See you all then, and thanks again for all your dedication and sincere efforts this semester.

Agenda 12/2/07

2007-12-02T13:27:00.000-08:00

Greetings all. Tonight is an important meeting; please be on time @ 8 pm!

I. Call to Order/Roll Call
II. Approval of Minutes/Agenda
III. Officer Reports
IV. Old Business (Casino Night ticket sales, December 9th Westwind Brass concessions)
V. New Business (Spring Officer Internships, New Officer Nominations/Speeches)
VI. Rehearsal (Assorted Christmas carols, prep for recording)
VII. Officer Elections (ARO/Warden)
VIII. Brother's Privilege
IX. Adjournment

Agenda 11/25/07

2007-11-24T10:31:00.000-08:00

Greetiings all. Hope you all have recovered from Turkey Day. Here's the proposed agenda for our meeting this Sunday night @ 8 pm:

I. Call to Order/Roll Call
II. Approval of Minutes/Agenda
III. Officer Reports
IV. Old Business (Probationary Wrap-up, White Night recap)
V. New Business (Casino Night prep, Building Day)
VI. Rehearsal (Sinfonian Hymn)
VII. Officer Nominations (Alumni Relations Officer, Warden)
VIII. Brother's Privilege
IX. Adjournment

Congratulations to the Delta Epsilon Class!

2007-11-20T10:10:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday, we initiated all eight members who began our Fall 2007 probationary process as the Delta Epsilon class. Even with the turmoil of the semester with the disruption of the wildfires, all eight men were dedicated and persevered to complete the process. We are proud to now call them brothers, and we are thrilled that they could meet so many members of Province 22 at the University of Redlands. As we prepare for the last few weeks of the semester, we encourage our new brothers to rely on the support of the chapter during the stressful preparation for finals.

New brothers are asked to wear formal clothing for this Sunday's chapter meeting (11/25 @ 8 pm) so that the Historian can take head shots to add to the chapter's bulletin board. Welcome and congratulations once again!

Casino Night December 6th!

2007-11-14T13:39:00.000-08:00

The Epsilon Omicron chapter is proud to announce the return of one of its most popular fundraisers, Casino Night! The event will take place on Thursday, December 6th from 7 pm to 10 pm in Room 114 of the Music Building (Band/Orchestra Room). Dress is formal, and refreshments will be available just outside the room. Pre-sale tickets will be available Monday, November 19th for a suggested donation of $8, and tickets will also be available at the door for a suggested donation of $10. Players will receive chips to use in blackjack, craps, poker, and roulette tables; players may re-buy for a suggested donation of $10. At the end of the night, players will turn in their chips for raffle tickets. A list of the prizes to be raffled off will be published shortly. Please tell your friends about this fantastic event; it will be a night to remember!

Directions to Cowles Mt. and Redlands!

2007-11-13T09:26:00.000-08:00

For our upcoming events, brothers have requested directions to the various venues. Here are sets of directions for the Gold Night/morning hike and the Province Workshop (probationary members, directions will soon be available for joining us midday in Redlands):

Cowles Mountain @ Golfcrest
FROM SDSU:
Take I-8 East to HWY 125 North.
Exit Navajo and turn left under overpass.
Turn right on Golfcrest (about 1.5 miles); turn into parking lot.

Province Workshop @ Redlands
FROM SDSU:
Take I-8 West to I-15 North.
Exit 215 North.
Exit I-10 East.
Exit University Avenue; turn left onto North University.
Turn right onto East Colton Avenue, park in lot.

National Exam Tonight!

2007-11-12T07:53:00.001-08:00

Probationary members, please be prepared to take the National Exam tonight at 10 pm in Room 261. In most cases, your Big Brothers will be on hand for moral support as you take the test. Please be on time, wear your probationary pins, and bring your class binders so that we may examine and add to the the comments you've collected so far. It would be advisable to bring a pencil with a good eraser, as you may wish to revise some answers before submitting your exam.

Agenda 11/12/07

2007-11-12T07:45:00.000-08:00

Here's the proposed agenda for tonight's meeting @ 9 pm (PLEASE NOTE LATER START TIME):

I. Call to Order/Roll Call
II. Approval of Minutes/Agenda
III. Officer Reports
IV. Old Business (Gold Discussion recap, Province Workshop timetable)
V. New Business (Prob Project report, Gold Night tasks)
VI. Adjournment

This meeting will be abbreviated to allow the probationary representative to review before the National Exam to be administered at 10 pm.

Gold Discussion Logistics

2007-11-08T12:03:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone. We will be starting Gold Discussion at 6 pm in room 261 upstairs. Please bring some food for yourself; we will eat during the discussion. Probationary members; bring your binders! Most of the actives will be able to do interviews immediately following the meeting; figure out who you have left and see if they are agreeable to hanging out afterwards for your interview. The discussion should take somewhere between 60 and 90 minutes. See you then!

Vista Volunteers

2007-11-07T13:59:00.000-08:00

For those of you volunteering at the Vista Invitational Field Tournament this weekend, here are two links with directions to Vista High School:

Driving Directions
Campus Map

We are supposed to check in at the Volunteer & Chaperone room listed on the Campus Map, located near the band room. Wear your letters if you have them; we will have badges that say Phi Mu Alpha on them as well. If you are planning to volunteer, please post a comment here so I can get an accurate count to report. Thanks.

Time Keeps On Slippin'

2007-11-06T12:28:00.000-08:00

The probationary process is coming to a close, and deadlines are fast approaching for the various tasks and projects assigned to the Delta Epsilon class. Foremost among those is the ubiquitous probationary binder; many faculty/staff signatures are still missing, and there are plenty of interviews still to be done. Start on these now. You have some free time, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this blog. Call or e-mail all the active members you have yet to interview. Leave voice mail if you have to; get together with them and knock out these interviews. Check the SDSU Music website for phone numbers/e-mail addresses of the remaining faculty on your list; contact them to arrange a time to meet so you can get their signatures. As Ian said at last night's meeting, the time for procrastination has past. If you don't start this week, you only have 4 more days to allow for last-minute cancellations of classes and other emergencies that happen before the end of the process.

I'm impressed that all of you have made it this far, and I'm looking forward to welcoming you all into our brotherhood. To the last mile!

Agenda 11/4/07

2007-11-04T13:52:00.000-08:00

Here's the proposed agenda for this evening's meeting:

I. Call to Order/Roll Call
II. Approval of Minutes & Agenda
III. Officer Reports
IV. Old Business (Province Workshop logistics, Vista Field Show volunteering)
V. New Business (fundraiser possibilities, all-American concert w/SAI)
VI. Rehearsal - "Songs Are Best at Candlelight"
VII. Brother's Privilege
VIII. Adjournment

Gold Week Questions

2007-11-03T09:07:00.000-07:00

Probationary members, here is the final batch of questions you will need to memorize for your National Exam on Monday, November 12th. You must score 100% on the National Exam to proceed with the probationary process.

Give the names of the director-level staff at the National Headquarters.
Executive Director – Ryan Ripperton
Assistant Executive Director – Jeremy Evans
Director of Alumni Engagement – Daniel Krueger

What is the mission of the Sinfonia Educational Foundation (SEF)?
To enrich the lives of collegiate Sinfonians, and to advance music in America.

What is the role of the alumni Sinfonian?
The alumni Sinfonian has an obligation to support the Fraternity’s efforts to build musical students into men of high ideals and to ensure that the Sinfonia experience is available for generations of students to come.

What is one benefit of membership in an Alumni Association?
Alumni Associations can offer opportunities for sociability, musical activity, and leadership similar to those enjoyed in the collegiate chapter.

Province workshops are held at least once each …
year (once a semester for Province 22).

What two days are celebrated by the Epsilon Omicron chapter?
Founder’s Day – October 6
Chapter Day – May 27

Upon initiation into the Fraternity, each member shall receive what six items?
Official membership pin
Wallet card
Membership Shingle (certificate)
Songbook (Sinfonia Songs, 2000 Centennial Edition)
National Constitution
General Regulations for Collegiate Chapters

Prep for Black Night

2007-11-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder to probationary members: please bring $20 CASH with you to pay for dinner tomorrow evening. Actives should also bring cash; swiping cards takes a lot more effort than just to hand over the full amount in cash. Probs may wish to bring a jacket; it will be a chilly night. We will be done between 1 and 2 am, so don't make any other plans until then. We're all looking forward to see the probationary presentation @ 6 pm. Do you have a venue secured yet? See you all tomorrow night.

Probationary Dues This Week!

2007-10-30T11:05:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that the remainder of the probationary dues should be turned in by Thursday, November 1st. We missed an installment last week because of the fires, so the final lump sum is due now. For probationary members who cannot meet this deadline, please contact me via e-mail so we can work something out. But in order to have all of your materials in on time, this payment must be sent out on Thursday. The chapter does not have any extra funds to be covering dues at this time. Here's a current list of who has paid what:

Kevin: $120 paid
Drew: $120 paid
Nick: $120 paid
Aaron: $120 to be charged
Matt: $40 paid
Tristan: $40 paid
Preston: $40 paid

Don't be the one that delays your class' materials! Get payment in ASAP!

Agenda 10/28/07

2007-10-27T22:41:00.000-07:00

Here's the proposed agenda for tomorrow evening's meeting:

I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call
III. Approval of Minutes
IV. Approval of Agenda
V. Officer Reports
VI. Old Business (Casino Night donations, Prob dues)
VII. New Business (Fire status, rescheduling)
VIII. Rehearsal "Sing, Sinfonians, SIng"
IX. Brother's Privilege
X. Adjournment

Thursday Thoughts (on Friday)

2007-10-26T14:44:00.000-07:00

Why does music have such a profound influence on our lives? Is it because we can articulate our feelings so eloquently when words would fail us? Or because an aural stimulus can remind us of a forgotten memory and transport us back to that moment when your life changed all those years ago? Perhaps the most compelling aspect of music is its ability to change our mood on an almost-subconscious level; music is the wallpaper of our lives. It surrounds and affects us, it can focus our attention or distract us with its intracacies, and with practice, we can choose music best suited for any situation.

Think about the times in your day when there is no music. Even then, the percussion of the water in your shower, your car's tires measuring the evenly spaced seams in concrete on a freeway, or perhaps the rise and fall in the wind outside provide enough aural information that our brains can perceive order in an apparently chaotic world. We do our best to make sense of the sounds around us; this is a learned response acquired during the first few years of life, as we try to define the world around us based on sensory clues. Visual stimulus is perhaps the most easily recognized, but the most pervasive stimuli are aural; an infant has only the same square of ceiling to gaze at in its crib, while the sounds heard by the infant go beyond the crib's boundary, and inform the child that more goes on than it sees.

When you hear a piece of music for the first time, what determines your attitude towards it? Does it remind you of another song? Are its lyrics especially meaningful for you? Does its chord progression elude you? Is it musically interesting? Because humans best learn by analogy, we are more likely to enjoy music that sounds similar to previously heard music we already enjoy. However, wonderful surprises await listeners who venture outside their comfort zone; rhythm, harmony, and melody are universal across all forms of musical expression. Those musicians looking to "create" songs with fresh ideas should keep in mind that there's very little fresh material after 4000+ years of human existence; odds are, someone's shared a similar experience and written music about it. Whatever else music is, for Sinfonians, it is our language.

Joint White Night with Delta Pi?

2007-10-25T21:24:00.001-07:00

Hey gang. I wanted to see what your thoughts were about having a joint White Night with Delta Pi. Probs are welcome to comment as well; Nov 18 is the day of the Province Workshop, so we could just make an entire day of it. Probs would be welcome at the Province Workshop, but could be segregated for certain activities. Please add your thoughts to the comments below.

Black Week Postponed

2007-10-24T09:08:00.000-07:00

Due to school closure this week, we have postponed Black Night for one week; it will now occur on November 2. Probationary members will not be held accountable for signatures from Oct 22 - Oct 26; you may still obtain these signatures via phone or in person for extra credit. Unfortunately, this discludes several active members from Black Night who had planned to go out of town on our off weekend; make sure you obtain your Oct 29 - Nov 2 signatures from everyone before Friday. Stay alert for updates on SDSU operations; there is an outside possibility the closure may extend into next week.

Poker Night @ Ryan's!

2007-10-23T18:30:00.000-07:00

In light of the recent school closure for the rest of the week, Ryan has offered to host the chapter for a poker night tonight, starting at 8 pm. Please call him for directions. Bring snacks & drinks if you can, and I'll stop by the Green Room to pick up the Morning Songbooks (if the Music building's open).

EO Roll Call

2007-10-22T12:12:00.000-07:00

I would like everyone in San Diego County to comment to this post so we can get an idea of who's been affected by the fires so far. Please include land line phone numbers and addresses for safe houses if you are offering shelter.

Agenda 10/21/07

2007-10-21T09:14:00.000-07:00

Here's the proposed agenda for tonight:

I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call
III. Approval of Minutes (10/7, 10/14)
IV. Approval of Agenda
V. Officer Reports
VI. Old Business (Probationary dues, Honorary status, Casino Night)
VII. New Business (Vista Tournament, Citations, Alumni invites)
VIII. Rehearsal (Sing, Brothers, Sing)
IX. Brother's Privilege
X. Adjournment

Black Discussion Tonight!

2007-10-19T14:41:00.000-07:00

Here are the directions to Ian & Shea's house:

Take I-8 West.
Exit Waring Rd. Proceed north up the hill.
Right @ Adobe Falls (first light).
Left @ first stop sign (also Adobe Falls).
Park around cul-de-sac.

Address is:
5543 Adobe Falls Road #10
San Diego, CA 92120

Call time is 7:30! See you then! (Matt and Bryan, remember to come early to review Red Discussion material.)

Thursday Thoughts

2007-10-18T10:50:00.000-07:00

It's that time again, and I'd like to direct your attention to the concept of excellence today. Most people equate excellence with over-achievers, control freaks, or naturally gifted individuals; their talents and/or dedication to achieve the best results are greater than the average person's. But this is not a complete picture of excellence; results cannot justify the means by which they were achieved. A person's motives in striving for excellence must also be examined.

Memorizing facts to get a better grade on a test only to forget them immediately after said test is in no way a measure of excellence; while the grade scored may pad your average in the class, do you really have anything to show for it? True excellence involves sacrifice of self, honest intentions, and attention to detail. While appearances can lead people to conclude that an effort was truly excellent, only its contributors can know the story behind its production.

Strive for excellence in your every effort, but begin by committing yourself to complete each project you undertake. Cheating or skimping on the project may not be obvious to outsiders, but you will know. Your sense of accomplishment in completing a true 'job well done' includes your methods and motives for completing that job.

Camera at Black Discussion

2007-10-17T21:00:00.000-07:00

Brothers!

I regret to inform you that I will not be attending Black discussion on account of a performance with John Nettles. I would appreciate it if someone could bring a camera to the discussion and take a few pictures. I would love a good picture of everyone chatting around the circle for a collection that I will be putting together at the end of the year! Thanks again.

In Phi

-Jesse Rogers

Probing Questions

2007-10-16T11:38:00.000-07:00

Probationary members, please comment to this posting with the following information:

•Full name you want printed on your shingle (membership certificate). Keep in mind usually full names (first, middle, last and no abbreviations) are printed on this type of document; it is meant to be displayed like a diploma in your eventual professional office.
•How much you've put towards the $120 probationary commitment as of the time you post.
•Number of completed interviews and the name of member in the next interview you have scheduled.

Black Week Questions

2007-10-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

Probationary members will be quizzed on the following facts for the next two weeks (highlight to see answers):

When and how did the Sinfonia Club become a national fraternity? October 6th, 1900, with the admission of a group of men at Philadelphia’s Broad Street Conservatory as Sinfonia’s Beta Chapter.
Who was the second president of the Alpha Chapter and sixth supreme president of Sinfonia? Percy Jewett Burrell
Give the names and locations of the first four chapters.
Alpha Chapter New England Conservatory of Music; Boston, Massachusetts
Beta Chapter Broad Street Conservatory; Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Gamma Chapter American Institute of Applied Art; New York, New York
Delta Chapter Ithaca Conservatory; Ithaca, New York
What frequency are national conventions held? Triennially (every three years)
When and where will the next convention be? 2009 in Orlando, Florida

Give the names and locations of the national executive committee.
National President Richard A. Crosby; Richmond, KY
National Vice President John A. Mongiovi; Evansville, IN
Committeeman-at-Large Derek J. Danilson; Newark, DE
Committeeman-at-Large Walter C. Riley; Washington, DC
National Collegiate Representative Micah P. White; Ashburn, VA
Chairman, PGs’ Council Mark R. Lichtenberg, Evansville, IN
Chairman, CPR’s Council John A. Ferguson; Chicago, IL
What is your province number? 22

List the names and locations of the chapters in your province.
Epsilon Omicron (EO) San Diego State University
Omicron Pi (OΠ) Cal State Univesity @ Fullerton
Delta Pi (ΔΠ) University of Redlands
Kappa Omicron (KO) Cal State University @ Long Beach
Give the name and location of your province governor. Bincins Garcia, OΠ
Give the name and location of your collegiate province representative. Jesse Reyes, OΠ

And if you need some help memorizing the Greek alphabet, here are our brothers from Pi Lambda to assist you…

There's No Ice Cream In Mexico

2007-10-15T00:05:00.000-07:00

So we brainstormed at Trujillo's to create a Phi Mu Alpha menu item. Some suggestions included:

•red sauce (not put on until after you order something)
•black beans (only for healthy people who fool themselves in thinking they don't taste bad)
•Spanish rice (which isn't really gold)
•taquitos (already suggested by another fraternity)
•a triangular crunchwrap (old idea)
•multi-colored chips (because they make black chips, but they'd have to order them in)
•a no-cheese option for Quinto
•SOPA! (re: this entry's title)

Agenda 10/14/07

2007-10-14T14:07:00.000-07:00

Here's the proposed agenda for this evening's meeting:

I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call
III. Approval of Minutes
IV. Approval of Agenda
V. Officer Reports
VI. Old Business (Red Night recap, Casino Night fundraiser, probationary signatures)
VII. New Business (Red Discussion, Black Discussion, Westwind Brass concessions)
VIII. Rehearsal - "Brothers in Fraternity"
IX. Brother's Privilege
X. Adjournment

Red Night Report

2007-10-13T12:03:00.000-07:00

Last night, we visited Atria Collwood, a local retirement community, for a Mills Music Mission. Every time we get together to sing for these folks, I come away from the experience with the feeling that we have deeply impacted the resident's lives. This time in particular, I wished we had stayed a while longer, since it felt like we had a little bit of gas left in the tank. But it was a very positive experience overall; the residents were supremely grateful, as most of the brothers discovered in talking to them after the performance.

Some things to improve on for next time:

•Making call times. I was really disappointed that only half the chapter was on time @ 5:30. I know some people were delayed because of traffic and other obstacles; to avoid these issues, plan to arrive at least a half-hour before call time. If you do arrive 30 minutes early, use it to practice your part on a difficult song, or to refresh your memory of National Exam questions.
•New songs. There are some of our songs that will always be part of our performance, but I would like to mix it up a little more next time. Big thanks to Nathan, Bryan, Jesse, Mike, and Ryan for prepping their solos/duets.
•Backstaging. I will take the blame for this one. When others are performing, the other brothers should remain silent and 'invisible'; i.e., you should not be moving around behind the soloists (unless they request you like for Nathan & Ryan's song).
•Expression. Watching most of you sing was mildly depressing; you had little to no expression on your face while singing! If you know your part for a song but are shaky on the words, look down only when you need the next line; the rest of the time you should be watching your audience and smiling. We are trying to uplift the audience through music's power, and our efforts most effective when we can make a closer connection by looking at them (serving them with music).

I was very happy to have our alumni join us for the evening, and hope to have them return for some of our later activities as well. I was a bit disappointed with the probationary class song; it seemed like you guys needed a couple more rehearsals to really lock in your parts. Thanks for your efforts this week; it was pretty evident that most of you were driven to get your work done. Remember to ask your Big Bros for guidance, but also ask them for suggestions on how they met the same challenges you are facing now when they went through their probationary process. Above all, respect each other as fellow musicians and men; you are all in this together, and for better or worse, your probationary brothers will be a part of your life for some time to come.

The Night Ran Red

2007-10-12T15:27:00.000-07:00

True Sinfonians venture forth in song
To win the world to harmony, they seek
An audience of wearied souls, among
The night of shadows, myriad and bleak.
A light comes forth from strong and purest heart
To reawake a hidden memory
Within a shriveled form; the love of art
and beauty lives in perpetuity.
A single rose presented shows their care
For other people at their self-expense;
A hundred years' tradition, love so rare
Begets its mirror as its recompense.
And witnesses, in awe, together see
Ossian Mills' desire in legacy.

Thursday Thoughts

2007-10-11T09:43:00.000-07:00

I'm currently holding a job as a marching tech at Mt. Carmel High School's band. Our night rehearsals are on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 9:30 pm. Last night, we finally finished learning the last of 68 sets for this year's field show, "The Legend of the Fifth Sun." Throughout the rehearsal, the kids were distracted and unfocused; after repeated attempts to get their attention, they finally, grudgingly made it all the way to the end of the show. While some students were giving their all, others were sliding by, or sometimes not even playing with the band. I was struck by this obstinance; why would musicians not want to finish something they'd been working on for almost two months?

After a couple run-throughs of the show, most of the students got the idea and started playing and marching as well as they had learned. The show improved dramatically; the overall sound was better, and each of the 68 sets were finally starting to make some sense to the audience. It occured to me as I was watching this improvement that an organization's maximum effectiveness is determined by its least contributing members. The efforts of committed individuals to improve the whole can be eclipsed by a single individual. The impact of unity can be compelling, but the selfish individual who does not make the same commitment to the group lessens that impact.

We all have the same goal in mind: to uplift man through the beauty and power of music. Even though our talents and our methods are diverse, our purpose is the same. Remember: Work for Sinfonia, and Sinfonia will work for you.

Red Night: Mills Music Mission Program

2007-10-10T15:34:00.000-07:00

Our biannual tradition of performing for the residents of Atria Collwood continues this Friday night at 6:00 PM. Our literature will be chosen from the following program:

FULL ENSEMBLE

Hail Sinfonia!
A Sinfonian Anthem
The Red and Black
Music In the Air
Whiffenpoof Song
On and Ever Upward
Evening Song
Softly (As I Leave You)
The Longest Time
A Brother at the Door
America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee)
Vive L'Amour
A Serenade to a Girl
Brown Eyes

PROBATIONARY CLASS

Oh, How I Miss Her

SOLOS/DUETS

Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet - Mike & Ryan
Miracle of Miracles - Bryan
Early Morning Rain - Jesse
Shower the People - Nathan & Ryan

Afterwards we will come back to SDSU for dinner; all members please bring $2 for pizza and drinks. The rest of the evening's activities should be concluded by 11:00 PM at the very latest. Here's to a great performance!

A new beginning

2007-10-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

This is the new homepage for the Epsilon Omicron chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia at San Diego State University! EO has been in continuous operation since its inception in 1950. We continue to uphold the traditions of Sinfonia in the School of Music & Dance here at SDSU by serving our fellow man with music. We sing publicly at least six times each week, provide free tutoring, and help out in the department as needed. As a member of Province 22, Epsilon Omicron stands with its Southern California neighbors Omicron Pi (CSU Fullerton), Kappa Omicron (CSU Long Beach), and Delta Pi (University of Redlands).