Sigma Alpha Iota

Fall 2020 4 P A N P I P E S MUSIC NOTES Imagine: Voices for the Future T his summer the Mu Sigma chapter, at Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, had the pleasure of partnering with eaterWorksUSA to hold a benefit concert—Imagine: Voices for the Future—to support their efforts. Our chapter had been thinking about what virtual service opportunities we could bring to the music community. We realized that this pandemic has affected everyone in many different ways. For musicians and artists, it has affected their stream of income, and as a chapter we wanted to be able to help. We wanted to bring awareness to how COVID-19 has affected the Arts while reminding our community how important music is to our daily lives. A former employee and Lincoln University Alumnus, Sheldon Fisher, connected us with eaterWorksUSA and exposed our chapter to all the amazing things the organization does for the Arts community. eaterWorksUSA is an organization that tries to bring theater to young adults at an affordable price. eir mission is to " create exceptional, transformative theatrical experiences that are accessible to young and family audiences in diverse communities throughout New York City and North America". ey've been around since 1929 and their founders believed that theater would give rising generations a reason to explore things within themselves as well as in their communities. We created a space with eaterWorksUSA for Artists to share their talents and to grant them an opportunity to perform during a time when many performances have come to a complete halt. e virtual concert was hosted by eaterWorksUSA's Artistic Ambassador and Broadway performer, Jelani Alladin. We were so excited to have three Lincoln University Alumni artists perform during the concert: Malcolm Richardson, current Classical Performer and Music Educator; Savannah McLaughlin, SAI Alumnae Member and Mu Sigma's former Vice President of Membership and Ritual; and Monet Little, who currently works in the music industry, Mu Sigma charter member and current alumnae member. Aer speaking with each of them, they all had their take on the experience. Savannah McLaughlin said, "e virtual concert was innovative and exciting, aligning itself with the mission and vision of Sigma Alpha Iota. I was honored to be performing with such talented and promising musicians while representing the legacy and future of the Mu Sigma chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota." She sang Gershwin's Summertime. Monet Little, who sang Just Like a Star by Corrine Bailey Rae, said, "Collaborating with eaterWorksUSA has been a very memorable experience for the Mu Sigma Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota. To work with like-minded organizations expands our reach and advocacy within music and the arts, and I look forward to many more joint projects in the future that will help further our mission and goals as an organization." Malcolm Richardson explained that, "e Performing Arts are what everyone loves to enjoy and what brings us joy and hope. It is something every person deserves the right to experience. I hope that my efforts made that possible for at least one and will continue to fight for the love of music!" is experience overall was our way to bring light to how musicians may still be able to express their talents and stay safe. eaterWorksUSA is still offering virtual ways for musicians and artists to have a form of income. Working with them allowed us to pass on that information to others who may not know of these opportunities and would like to grow their careers in the Arts. We hope to be able to do something like this again in the future. —Jerrica Flint, Membership Advisor, Mu Sigma Chapter Learn more about TheaterWorksUSA at: https://twusa.org Monet Little Savannah McLaughlin Jerrica Flint

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