THE TUBA wrote:We're hardly famous, but when the current batch of probationary members finish pledging, we will have 17 active Sinfonians in our tuba studio (not including Dr. Dennis AsKew, one of our chapter's faculty advisors).
Mike Robinson,
Iota Epsilon Historian
That is really awesome.
If I am initiated, that will mean that our entire tuba/euph studio (including teacher) will be Sinfonians...of course, including the teacher, that only makes 4, but still, it's a cool thing to say.
"We can avoid humanity's mistakes"
"Like the tuba!"
I realize Wikipedia is not a scholarly source, but for what it's worth, there's a list of notable Sinfonians in the Phi Mu Alpha article. I didn't know Mr. Rogers was a Sinfonian... w00t.
I am currently CPR 3 and will be at the Convention. On the note of famous Sinfonians, find out what school they went to and then search the list of each school by visiting the website, http://www.sinfonia.org" target="_blank, and go to forgot ID on the left hand side. Type in their last name and choose the school from the list and your answer will appear!
Someone mentioned earlier that Count Basie was a Sinfonian. I want to confirm this and say that I had the honor of being present at his initiation ritual. If fact we are down as having the same initiation date. This however is not exactly accurate, but I think it will make a good story anyway. My freshman class had just been initiated on a Sunday morning. The following Monday or Tuesday night, the Count Basie Band was on campus doing a concert. Our chapter president approached Count Basie to see if he was a member or would be interested in becoming a Sinfonian. Mr. Basie accepted and joined that evening in an impromptu ritual while his band waited on the bus. After the ritual we all went up to congratulate him and I will always remember the tears in his eyes and how deeply touched he seemed.
Move forward 9 years. I was traveling with the 1st and possibly only U.S. tour of the Moscow Circus. We’re playing in Memphis when one of our reed players comes to me before a show started and said, “Go check out the guy back stage”. Well, I walked back stage and there stands Count Basie with his entire band plus Sarah Vaughan and her rhythm section! I immediately walked up to Count Basie and explained that he probably wouldn’t remember this incident from 9 years earlier, but that I had been present when he was initiated into Phi Mu Alpha. Mr. Basie then pulled his sport coat back exposing the inside of the lapel and there was the Phi Mu Alpha pin that he said he had worn every day since his initiation 9 years earlier and once again he had tears in his eyes and hugged me! Wow! If that wasn’t enough he invited the entire circus band to the Hilton that night as his guests for the entire evening. He and Sarah Vaughan were appearing together in Memphis. Mr. Basie hung out with us all night and picked up the tab for everyone! That is one memory that I will take to the grave. What a guy! What a memory!
I am a Sinfonian. Xi Chi chapter. Pledged and joined in1973.
Not famous but still proud to have belonged. I believe Winston Morris is a Sinfonian.
ScottM
OAS AAS LLS
