Danielle Tully  Music and Theater Arts  University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Women as Patronesses of Music: Sigma Alpha Iota’s Role in American Music Women as Patronesses of Music: Sigma Alpha Iota’s Role in American Music The Nature of the Project This project was created as part of the Department of Music and Theater Arts’ “Year of Inclusivity.” The goal was to spend a year studying both a history of music in general and a specific focus on our department, to find issues of inclusivity of minorities is our curriculum. I am a member of the organization Sigma Alpha Iota, which is a music fraternity made up of collegiate and alumni women, and other musicians of high merit. The organization was founded in 1903 to promote American women in music. Since its founding, Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI) has supported American women and men in their musical endeavors. The specific focus of my project was SAI’s support of American Composers. This fit into the “Year of Inclusivity” due to the fact that the international organization was founded by and is still run by women. The 7 founders are show here. Pan’s Cottage at the MacDowell Colony  The MacDowell Colony is a secluded compound in Peterborough, New Hampshire that has been designated as a retreat for artists of all types.  It was created in honor of Edward MacDowell, a renowned American Composer. His wife Marian MacDowell started the colony at the composer’s long time home.  Sigma Alpha Iota joined the project in 1918 by building a cottage on the colony.  The idea was proposed at the Sigma Alpha Iota National Convention in At this time there were only 11 chapters in existence. All members were collegiate women or faculty alumni. The delegates at the convention decided to go forward on the project, which at that point had no funds. Two years later construction began.  The cottage was named after the god Pan, of Greek Mythology, who’s pipes are a symbol of Sigma Alpha Iota.  Since it’s construction thousands of composers, writers, and visual artists have retreated to Pan’s Cottage to complete their work.  Since the building of Pan’s Cottage Sigma Alpha Iota has taken on other projects at the MacDowell Colony. During the 2006 National Convention, Sigma Alpha Iota announced that they would be donating $75,000 to the MacDowell colony. This money was used for a restoration project to Edward MacDowell’s personal music room. This room was where the composer worked and is a central part of the MacDowell Colony’s propose. The History of the Inter-American Music Awards  Sigma Alpha Iota has been hosting composition competitions for 90 years.  Today, Sigma Alpha Iota’s competitions are known as the Inter- American Music Awards or IAMA’s. They are held triennially. The 1920’s  The first composition competition hosted by Sigma Alpha Iota happened in  The second was in  These competitions were open to any Sigma Alpha Iota member who had not been published. The 1930s  Throughout the 1930s decade Sigma Alpha Iota held many competitions. The first was for Chorus, and then one for Strings.  These competitions were open to any American-Born female.  Both competitions had categories exclusively for Sigma Alpha Iota members. The War Years  Due to the political state of the country during the early 1940’s there were no competitions held. The New American Music Program  In the Fall of 1948 Sigma Alpha Iota introduced their new series of competitions, known as the American Music Awards.  The competitions were to be held in three year cycles.  They were open to both American women and men between the ages of 22 and 35 The Modern Day IAMAs  Since the creation of American Music Awards, the competition has grown to include North, Central, and South America and the name was changed to the Inter-American Music Awards (IAMA).  The IAMAs are open to any composer, man or women, with no age regulations.  The competitions are judged by a board of composer-judges. These judges are talented and renowned composers, it is an honor to be chosen as a judge. Many women have served as composer –judges to the IAMAs. Sigma Alpha Iota’s Support of American Composers  Epsilon Omicron Chapter is located at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire in Eau Claire, Wisconsin  The chapter has set goals to support composition by SAI members and their colleagues in the Eau Claire area.  In the past the chapter fund a residency with composer Libby Larsen, who is a well known female composer and a member of Sigma Alpha Iota  In the year the chapter is planning to host a composition competition for youth composers in the Eau Claire area.  The project is still in very early stages so more details are not available at this time. Epsilon Omicron Chapter’s Commitment to Composition Pan’s Cottage, MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, New Hampshire Acknowledgements This project was made possible through funds provided by Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and printing by Learning & Technology Services. Sigma Alpha Iota Code of Arms SAI Philanthropies Logo