Mu Phi Epsilon

In 1903, Dr. Winthrop Sterling, Dean of the Metropolitan College of Music, Elocution and Dramatic Art in Cincinnati, Ohio, had a dream that women music students should have an organization that would bring them together, providing a sense of well-being and guidance. He enlisted the help of his 19-year-old assistant and fellow faculty member, Elizabeth Mathias (later Elizabeth Mathias Fuqua) to establish such an organization.

Image courtesy of the Mu Phi Epsilon 1904 Year-Book

 

Mu Phi Epsilon was to be chartered as a National Music Sorority, the first of its kind in the United States, working for a stronger foothold in the musical world where there could be equal opportunities for both sexes. Thus, the Mu Phi Epsilon Alpha Chapter held its first meeting with thirteen young women on that fateful November 13, 1903 (yes, it was a Friday!).

The establishment of the Beta Chapter at the New England Conservatory in Boston soon followed, November 30, 1903. 

Image courtesy of the Mu Phi Epsilon 1904 Year-Book

The purpose of Mu Phi Epsilon is the recognition of scholarship and musicianship, and the development of a bond of friendship among its members (“Music, Friends, and Harmony”). Its aim is the advancement of music in the community, nation, and world through promotion of musicianship, scholarship, therapy, and education, with an emphasis on service through music.

The Mission of Mu Phi Epsilon:

• Foster the ideals of service to school and community
• Develop an awareness that artistic gifts are to be shared
• Promote high scholarship, musicianship, and friendship through service 
• Provide opportunities for strong artistic and personal abilities 

Membership is limited to music majors and minors, music faculty not already initiated as members in another professional music fraternity, and musicians of achievement who have never joined a professional fraternity. Upon graduation, collegiate members may affiliate with an alumni chapter.
 
In 1944, Mu Phi Epsilon changed status to function as a Professional Music Sorority, after definitions of general, honor and professional sororities were formulated and accepted by the National Conference on College Fraternities and Societies. Mu Phi Epsilon became a co-educational Professional Music Fraternity in 1977 in compliance with federal regulations of Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972.

The Fraternity’s outreach efforts include the formation of the School of Music at Gads Hill Center in Chicago, the Interlochen Scholarship Lodge, the Cleveland Music School Settlement, the International Music Camp in Dunseith, North Dakota, the MacDowell Colony, the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis, Marrowstone Music Festival in Bellingham, WA, Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, and Project STEP in Boston among others. Mu Phi Epsilon offers a wide range of scholarships and grants.

Mu Phi Epsilon is now an international coeducational fraternity with more than 75,000 members, having chartered 197 collegiate and 106 alumni chapters, 60% of which are currently active.

Photo courtesy of the author

Photo courtesy of the author

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo courtesy of the author

(P.S. the hiddy wall-paper has changed!)

A Mu Phi Epsilon library has existed in some form or another since the organization’s early years. For most of that time, organizing and housing it fell on the shoulders of the International Presidents, and thus, each time a new president was elected, the materials were transferred to her. This cumbersome and expensive process ended in 2000 when the holdings were transferred to their current location in Independence, Mo., to be curated by me, your humble author. Check out the website!

Many more historical fraternity materials were transferred from the International Executive Office to the Library & Archives in 2003 and 2014. For the Centennial in 2003, I updated the finding aid, Mu Phi Epsilon Composers & Authors, more than doubling the number of names within. The last full edition of this book was published in 1972 with a supplement appearing in 1976. 

The impact Mu Phi Epsilon has had, particularly in the encouragement of women musicians, cannot be overstated. A gentle mandate was in place that for chapter and convention meetings, pieces by Mu Phi composers be offered, performed by Mu Phi performers. The Mu Phi Epsilon-sponsored composition, research, and performance competitions many times either launched renowned careers or provided opportunities not available anywhere else for a musical female. 

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A very select list of some famous Mu Phis:

Amy Beach (Mrs. H.H.A.), piano, composer

Diane Bish, organ, arranger, television producer

Leone Buyse, flute, educator

Stephanie Chase, violin

Chen Yi, composer

Cecile Chaminade (honorary member), piano, composer

Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano

Emma Lou Diemer, keyboards, composer

Sandra Gay, organ, composer

Dorothy Gaynor Blake, piano, composer, educator

Elizabeth Gould, composer, educator

Anne Gray, author

Marilyn Harris, cello, composer

Marilyn Horne, mezzo-soprano

Wihla Hutson, composer, author (incl. the Alfred Burt Carols)

Carrie Jacobs-Bond, composer

Alice Jordan, organ, composer

Virginia Kendrick, piano, organ, composer

Sherry Kloss, violin

Marian MacDowell (Mrs. Edward), piano, philanthropist

Harriet Payne, viola, composer, conductor

Zenobia Powell Perry, composer, educator

Deon Nielsen Price, piano, composer

Gladys Rich, composer

Ernestine Schumann-Heink, contralto

Williametta Spencer, piano, organ, composer, educator

Dorothy Tulloss, educator

Shirley Verrett, mezzo-soprano

Ruth Watanabe, music librarian

Amy Worth, piano, organ, composer, educator

             Ruth Shaw Wylie, composer