Comments/edits are more than welcome!! I plan to send it in two or three days.
_____________
January 20th, 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
