Letter to Jennifer Higdon

Sisters,

Comments/edits are more than welcome!! I plan to send it in two or three days.

_____________

January 20^th, 2013

Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity, Eta-Iota Chapter

University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

(insert CCM address)

Dear Ms. Higdon,

My name is Jalen Lee. I am an undergraduate student at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and I write to you on behalf of my sisters in the CCM chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota. SAI is a professional women’s music fraternity comprised of 222 collegiate chapters, 120 alumni chapters, and one international chapter. We aim to provide a network of friendship and support for female musicians and to promote music outreach and education all over the world. A further and cherished aim of our organization is the promotion of new music, especially new music by female composers. These objectives are supported in part by SAI’s philanthropic arm, Sigma Alpha Iota Philanthropies, Inc., and by the volunteer efforts of individual chapters.

The Eta-Iota chapter here at CCM was chartered in 1955. We are a tightly-knit community of sisters who strive to uphold SAI’s ideals every day as students at this fantastic conservatory. Notable events for our chapter have included performing in nursing homes around Cincinnati, hosting an “instrument petting zoo” for children at Ronald McDonald House Charities, and organizing a Composers’ Concert featuring new works by CCM composition students. 2012-2013 has been an especially big year for us, as we welcomed a pledge class of 11 wonderful new women. When they are initiated in March, we will have doubled our membership!

Ms. Higdon, you represent an amalgamation of everything we value as an organization, which brings me to the reason for this letter. We are aware and excited about your residency with the Cincinnati Symphony this season; in light of that, the idea was brought up earlier in the year to invite you to speak to our chapter. More recently, we decided that we would like this to coincide with a recital in March or April, which would feature several of our members and focus on contemporary music. Ideally, we would love to host an informal question-and-answer session before the recital, about anything from the role of women in music to your compositions and work with the CSO.

We have not set a date, thinking that we would instead ask when and if you plan to be in Cincinnati in the months of March or April. You must be an incredibly busy person, and we would be honored if you find the time to respond. Thank you so much for reading.

Sincerely,

Jalen Lee (Secretary) and the sisters of Eta-Iota Chapter

Minutes 12/2/12

Minutes 11/18/12

Jennifer Higdon interview

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104464863

Here's a very interesting NPR interview with Jennifer Higdon and Marin Alsop, the conductor of the Baltimore Symphony and the first-ever female conductor of a major American orchestra. They talk about working together and touch on the issue of gender in classical music.

A Night of New Music

Last Thursday, October 18th, the Eta-Iota chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota held a concert of new music in the Baur Room at CCM. Sisters in the chapter performed pieces by Danny Clay, Scott Sheppard, André Previn, Trevor Alan Gomes, and James Allen.

During the first set of the evening, Elliana sang Danny Clay's piece "Children's Songs, Book 2" with text based on kindergarten-age poetry. Ty Niemeyer and Lauren Fink also played mallet percussion during the set, which was written for soprano, two percussionists, and recording. The next piece of the evening was Elliana and Hannah Peterson premiering Scott Sheppard's "Amor" for soprano and flute.

Next was a flute solo played by Hannah titled "Solitude," also written by Scott Sheppard. Soprano Emma Siegel and pianist Rachel Zapata performed next with André Previn's "Three Dickinson Songs"with text from Dickinson poems. During the next set, Elliana sang with the composer Trevor Alan Gomes on piano for his "Songs on Shel Silverstein Poems." The last performance of the night was "Broken Lights," a song composed by James Allen for soprano, baritone, violin, cello, two guitars, and piano.

Admission for the event was free and the sisters of Eta-Iota and the Cincinnati Alumnae chapter provided heavy hors d'oeuvres and desserts. Coffee and raspberry lemonade was also available during the buffet-style pre-concert time.  

Performers during Allen's "Broken Lights."

The Evening of New Music was a wonderfully successful concert put on by the Eta-Iota chapter, and it couldn't have run so smoothly without the hard work of Elliana and the committee.

Minutes for October 14th

Minutes for October 7th