About Sigma Alpha Iota
Sigma Alpha Iota is an organization which promotes interaction among those who share a commitment to music. Members of SAI are active in all areas of campus music and campus life, working closely with faculty, administration, campus and community groups, music professionals, and patrons. In addition to personal encouragement and support, members may receive scholarships, loans and awards in many areas and at all levels of music-related study. Sigma Alpha Iota has long been recognized as a leader in the field of music and provides a lifetime of fraternity contact. The SAI Alumnae Association allows alumnae members to remain active and supportive of the ideals of SAI.
You can contact us at [email protected].
You can contact us at [email protected].
Chicago Alumnae Chapter History
Formation and Early History
As with all Sigma Alpha Iota alumnae groups, the Chicago Alumnae Chapter was originally part of a collegiate chapter. When the alumnae groups began organizing as clubs, our chapter received the Greek name Omicron Gamma on May 4, 1926. When alumnae clubs began receiving charters by location around 1940, we became the Chicago Alumnae Chapter.
Our first President was Mae Sheppard Saunders. Among the original founders were Louise Hattstaedt Winter, Genevieve Van Vranken Muth, Florence Nichols Adams, Lyravine Votaw, Cordelia Schellinger Pardee, and LaVergne Hand (the first recipient of the Rose of Honor).
National SAI House in Chicago
SAI had dreams of creating a National SAI House in Chicago, where initiations, banquets, and Founders’ Day programs could be held. This project began at the Allerton Hotel with an office, a bedroom for day use only, and a lounge featuring a Baldwin grand piano. Omicron Gamma performed several special programs to build funds for the National House, including a February 11, 1927 benefit featuring sisters Isabelle Walker Kuehne and Roberta Walker Riley performing as The Gold Dust Twins.
After five years at the Allerton, the headquarters was moved to the Town Club at Tower Court and Pearson. One year later, they moved to the Fine Arts Building on Michigan Avenue; meetings and programs were held at the Women’s University Club.
Changes from World War II
World War II brought about many changes, including the end of the National House in Chicago. Accordingly, our chapter reallocated our National House funds toward the foundation of the Chicago Alumnae Special Music Philanthropy Fund. The chapter also began holding meetings and musicales in members’ homes.
The Chicago Alumnae Chapter organized an Inter-Chapter Council in the 1940’s to bring all area chapters together to promote music activities in the community. Our chapter also began promoting music opportunities for students by presenting scholarships to music students, sponsoring benefit music programs, and making contributions to music organizations in the Chicagoland area.
A History of Giving
The Chicago Alumnae Chapter has regularly supported SAI Philanthropies, Inc. through donations to MacDowell Colony, People to People, Music Therapy, and student scholarships. During the 1990’s, we also regularly contributed to SAI’s Century Fund.
During the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, our chapter copied “The Well-Tempered Clavichord” by Johann S. Bach in Bold Notes for the partially-sighted musician. Many hours were spent on this project with the assistance of other Chicagoland chapters, and the composition is now housed at the Library of Congress.
The Chicago Alumnae Chapter continues to raise funds for music philanthropy, and looks forward to engaging in a variety of projects to promote the cause of music in our city and around the world.
As with all Sigma Alpha Iota alumnae groups, the Chicago Alumnae Chapter was originally part of a collegiate chapter. When the alumnae groups began organizing as clubs, our chapter received the Greek name Omicron Gamma on May 4, 1926. When alumnae clubs began receiving charters by location around 1940, we became the Chicago Alumnae Chapter.
Our first President was Mae Sheppard Saunders. Among the original founders were Louise Hattstaedt Winter, Genevieve Van Vranken Muth, Florence Nichols Adams, Lyravine Votaw, Cordelia Schellinger Pardee, and LaVergne Hand (the first recipient of the Rose of Honor).
National SAI House in Chicago
SAI had dreams of creating a National SAI House in Chicago, where initiations, banquets, and Founders’ Day programs could be held. This project began at the Allerton Hotel with an office, a bedroom for day use only, and a lounge featuring a Baldwin grand piano. Omicron Gamma performed several special programs to build funds for the National House, including a February 11, 1927 benefit featuring sisters Isabelle Walker Kuehne and Roberta Walker Riley performing as The Gold Dust Twins.
After five years at the Allerton, the headquarters was moved to the Town Club at Tower Court and Pearson. One year later, they moved to the Fine Arts Building on Michigan Avenue; meetings and programs were held at the Women’s University Club.
Changes from World War II
World War II brought about many changes, including the end of the National House in Chicago. Accordingly, our chapter reallocated our National House funds toward the foundation of the Chicago Alumnae Special Music Philanthropy Fund. The chapter also began holding meetings and musicales in members’ homes.
The Chicago Alumnae Chapter organized an Inter-Chapter Council in the 1940’s to bring all area chapters together to promote music activities in the community. Our chapter also began promoting music opportunities for students by presenting scholarships to music students, sponsoring benefit music programs, and making contributions to music organizations in the Chicagoland area.
A History of Giving
The Chicago Alumnae Chapter has regularly supported SAI Philanthropies, Inc. through donations to MacDowell Colony, People to People, Music Therapy, and student scholarships. During the 1990’s, we also regularly contributed to SAI’s Century Fund.
During the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, our chapter copied “The Well-Tempered Clavichord” by Johann S. Bach in Bold Notes for the partially-sighted musician. Many hours were spent on this project with the assistance of other Chicagoland chapters, and the composition is now housed at the Library of Congress.
The Chicago Alumnae Chapter continues to raise funds for music philanthropy, and looks forward to engaging in a variety of projects to promote the cause of music in our city and around the world.
Individual Award Recipients
Rose of Honor
Lavergne Hand (1962) Mildred Waugh (1963) Mollie Ewing Wiggins (1963) Gloria Messerschmidt (1967) Madeline Hobbs (1968) Eugenia Corzine (1971) Dorothy Kittaka (1971) Hazel Eikedahl (1973) Alberta Daniels (1975) Evelyn D’Arpa (1976) Gail Fisher Swerdlik (1977) Isabelle Walker Kuehne (1978) Gladys Peterson (1978) Maris Anne Sternberg (1979) Viola Manning (1981) Gail Swerdlik (1977) Isabelle Walker Kuehne (1978) Gladys Peterson (1978) Maris Anne Sternberg (1979) Viola Manning (1981) Belinda King (2014) Agnes Smith (2016) Alli Smith (2016) Kay Bobis (2017) Linda Parapetti (2018) |
Sword of Honor
Gail Swerdlik (Early 1970's) Kay Bobis (1977) Alison Westmoreland (2017) Kelly Lawrence (2018) Ring of Excellence Gloria Messerschmidt (1987) Diamond Sword of Honor Gloria Messerschmidt* (1993) *one of five first awarded at the 1993 National Convention Rose of Dedication Gloria Messerschmidt (2007) Gail Swerdlik (2016) Viola Manning (2016) National Collegiate Leadership Award Allison Smith (2012) Collegiate Honor Award Kali Maginity (2014) |
For more information on Sigma Alpha Iota awards, view the Fraternity Awards section of the national website.
Scholarships Presented in Memory of Former Members
Former Scholarships:
Olive Hooper (1977) Vilma Gartelman (1978) Lucy Daniels (1979) Grace and Jane Symons (1980, 1983, 1984) Alberta Thrasher (1981) Eugenia Corzine (1982) Dale Demsch (1985) Esther Holmes (1986, 1987, 1988, 1998) Cleo Ressler (1989, 1993, 1995, 1999) Isabelle Walker Kuehne (1990, 1992, 1994) Rhea O’Neill (1991) |
Maris Anne Sternberg Summer Music Scholarship:
Natalie Lee from Beta Chapter (2016) Allison Wang from Mu Xi Chapter (2017) Cassidy Cottle from Beta Chapter (2018) |