Sigma Alpha Iota is an international music fraternity of women. SAI is specifically designed as an organization that brings music loving women together through sisterhood, exhibition of musical skills, and acts of charitable community service. Our purpose is to uphold the highest standards of music and further the development of music in America and throughout the world. It was founded in 1903, but the Lambda Phi chapter at UMass was just created in 2011. As a result, SAI is an experienced organization but we at UMass are still a baby chapter that is continuing to grow and we’d love you to be a part of it!

SAI was called a sorority until 1926, when it was replaced by the word “fraternity”. This is because fraternity comes from the feminine Latin noun “fraternitas”, which refers to both men and women. It has been used by all the music fraternities for many years.

Participating in Greek life allows you to have a lifelong sisterhood or brotherhood, and connects you with fellow members in a way that is unique because of the nature of the organization’s mission. It goes beyond a “club” and campus life, and gives you access to the nationwide organization for lifelong opportunities of networking and sisterhood/brotherhood. “Because of SAI, I know I have family at my undergrad in NC, and here at UMASS. SAI was my warm welcome to my new home, and is a sisterhood that I know will be with me throughout my career.” -Janine Neprud, Music Grad Student and recent Lambda Phi sister “SAI has given me the comfort of knowing that wherever life leads me, I will have the support of my sisters. I have connected with sisters all over the country and they make it feel like a home away from home no matter where I am.” -Skyla Johnson, a sister who is graduating this semester and moving to Virginia and joining her local alumnae chapter

SAI is not on the Panhellenic Council, therefore it is not connected to other sororities on campus. SAI is a professional fraternity that provides many opportunities for leadership, teaching, and responsibility. You don’t “rush” SAI, you get “recruited”. There is absolutely no hazing, no parties, or crazy expensive fees. SAI is actually significantly cheaper than many Greek organizations at UMass. Finally, SAI is unique because it evenly split between 50% performance and 50% service. SAI is a great opportunity for someone who wants to grow as a musician, as well as help other fellow musicians grow. It is a nice balance between service for others, advancing individually, and performing as a group

SAI is composed of music loving women who want to provide service to the campus and the community. Here at UMass our chapter consists of various women from different organizations, leadership positions, and backgrounds.

We meet regularly to organize events and carry out various activities that help us develop as a chapter whether it’s performances, service projects, or social activities. We like to collaborate with other organizations on campus, and we also love garlic bread. Performances: We do many different types of performances, all lowkey and fun. Something we’re very proud about is our benefit concert we did last Spring, where we invited other groups to join us in some of our pieces, and all profits made went directly to the Time’s Up movement. We also do winter recitals, caroling, singing at nursing homes, and other cool stuff! We have different fundraisers throughout the year to help facilitate these various projects. Service: We do service that somehow benefits the development of music, whether it is at UMass, the local community, or even farther. Some examples of service we have done in the past include: cleaning and organizing a music teacher’s classroom in Northborough, MA, tuning music teacher’s instruments, making craft kits for children’s hospitals, making motivational cards for practice rooms, painting rooms/music stands, helping Girl Scouts earn their music badge and raise money, providing recital receptions for students, our benefit concert for the Time’s Up movement, our donation to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas music program, and more. Social: While we do a lot of “business”, we also like to have a lot of fun with each other! We have social events throughout the semester that are either just for us, or with one or more other organizations on campus. Some examples of recent social events we’ve had are game nights, movie nights, cupcake and gingerbread house decorating contests, apple picking, spa days, and one of our recent favorites: Bob Ross paint night! Examples of social events we’ve done with other Greeks include adventuring through a corn maze with PMA, letter making with TBS, and a potluck and kickball game with KKPsi.

YES. You don’t have to be a music major, or be in the marching band. You also don’t have to be the best at music to be in SAI. You never have to do anything alone in SAI, and that includes music. When we rehearse and perform, we do so as an entire chapter. We have women in our chapter that write their own pieces, and women who can barely read music. The diversity of talent is something we cherish! “Being in SAI as a non music major and not being in UMMB is not the kind of barrier you might think. This is because we are all bonded through that passion for musical greatness and love for each other as sisters. I’m proud to be in SAI and I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to join.” -Megan Brennan, President

The amount of time you spend with/for SAI is up to you. A typical week of SAI includes a chapter meeting on Sunday from 4-6pm and an occasional rehearsal sometime during the week. While we do have required events like chapter rehearsals and service/social events, we also have additional small group pieces of music, social activities, and other events that are voluntary based. The time commitment is what you make of it, and our very busy sisters are able to find a balance between SAI, academics, and the other organizations they’re involved in through our very understanding attendance policy. “As a math major, a member of the drumline, the library manager for the Hoop/Ice Band, as well as working two jobs, SAI is a fun outlet where I get to hang out with my best friends - my sisters! Once you get used to the two hour meeting every Sunday, the time commitment required by SAI is minimal. Recruitment events, extra rehearsals, and social events are all manageable and the attendance policy is very accommodating if you have other commitments!” -Morgan White, Logistics Committee Chair “I am a music education major, a section leader in marching band, a member of my CNAfME Executive Board and a committee chair for SAI. I work on budgeting my time, and sometimes I just have to take things day by day. The SAI Executive board is very understanding about certain types of absences, and the fall schedule often works around the marching band too! It's all worth it for the fun and friendship that comes along with being a sister!” -Isabelle Garland, Social Chair “I've done a lot for the marching band as the Band Manager, and balancing my time to do SAI as well has been difficult, but it's all about looking ahead and paying attention to commitments. I use my planner religiously and write down everything I need to do. The easiest way to make sure I keep on top of my schoolwork, band responsibilities, and SAI is to remember that I'm here to learn and have fun. I joined SAI to have fun and meet new people, and I do a few small groups and do my best to be involved and present. While it can be a lot of work, I enjoy my time in SAI and it's not really work, it's for fun.” -Lilly Povey, Cool Sister

The first year in Sigma Alpha Iota is the most expensive, costing $50 at the beginning of the semester and $250 at the end. After the first year it is $120 paid annually, where the majority goes right to the national organization. This is a lot cheaper compared to other Greeks on campus, and provides the materials every sister needs to thrive in the chapter and connect you with other chapters across the nation.

OF COURSE. We have had many sisters that have started in a different organization, or choose to join another while being a sister of SAI. This includes non-music Greek organizations. If you want a first hand opinion, talk to Katie Fejes! She is a sister of SAI that just recently also became a sister of TBS, and we are so happy for her!

At the beginning of the semester, we have 5 recruitment events that allow us to get to know who is interested in SAI and who we think will be a good fit for our chapter. They also allow you to get to know us better and see what SAI is all about! These events are super casual (besides the Rose Tea, the last event which is semi-formal), and we want you to come as you are! If you go to our events and decide SAI is something you’d like to be a part of, you can fill out an interest form and and return it to a sister and that’s it! No interviews or papers! Just a casual way to decide if SAI would be a positive influence on your life.

We want sisters who are loyal to their fellow sisters and the organization as a whole. We want sisters who love music and service, are dedicated to their personal advancement, and who are willing to take the step to help one another. These women will be a positive energy in our chapter and will make us better musicians and humans.

○ To be considered for SAI, you must have completed at least one semester at UMass, have a GPA of at least 2.5 (The Dean looks at this, we never see it), and are taking/have taken a music class on campus.

A MIT (Member-In-Training) is someone who accepts our membership invitation. Throughout the semester, they attend 6 weekly 1-hour classes where they learn more about Sigma Alpha Iota’s history and purposes in order to prepare them to be a full sister. There is one exam taken at the end of the semester based on what you have learned with the help and support of your Big and other sisters. Besides these classes, there is also the opportunity to do a service project, fundraise for your fees (up to 50%!), and socialize with the sisters. After completion of the exam, you are then allowed to be initiated as a full sister of Sigma Alpha Iota. MITs also have the opportunity to do a MIT Recital where they can showcase their talents individually, or in a group.

○ The MIT fees go towards providing you with the supplies you will need to study and prepare you for the exam as well as your membership pin, certificate, and other materials.