Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • Summer 2023 15 SAI Philanries, Inc. Mission: To celebrate musical talents. Vision: Aims at helping students and local music artists to enhance a wholistic and artistic music education that appreciates their unique identities so that artists-to-be can realize their fullest potential as artists both locally and internationally. Objectives: • To pass on practical skills in modern musical instruments, music theory, and vocal training to provide lifelong skills to vulnerable youths and young adults of disadvantaged places whose plight is at stake, at the same time to attain hope and appreciation for life. • To offer opportunities for future artists/musicians to catch up with international music skills in being able to play at least an instrument, and to sing and play instruments in live vocal performance. SPAIN continued from page 13 sit and observe the cathedral and the newcomers having their big moment. I remember talking to my friend about how the cathedral looked different. e previous day, it had been the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, but today it looked a little more dull, nothing super standout- ish about the architecture, and in my head I could think of multiple other cathedrals I had seen that were more magnificent than this. Nonetheless, it was still beautiful, it just held a different beauty than it had the day before. I turned to my friend and said "I think this is what death feels like. Heaven isn't necessarily going to have the big grandiose gold and pearly gates, nor is it going to be the most beautiful structure you're ever going to see. Instead, it's going to be the feeling. e feeling of being at peace with your life and everything you had accomplished during your time on earth. ere isn't going to be anything magnificent to look at, but it will be beautiful because of what it represents. You will find beauty in it through peace because of the life you created and are leaving behind." e excitement of the day before had dwindled and no longer was I looking at the cathedral with the same eyes. Instead of it being a milestone of, "I MADE IT 500 MILES TO THIS EXACT LOCATION," it instead turned to a reflection of everything I had accomplished within those 500 miles, the people I had met, and the life lessons I had learned that will guide me for years to come. Megan Combs is a graduate of SUNY Potsdam, Crane School of Music where she was initiated by the Gamma Delta Chapter. Currently, Megan works with Creative Goods on Broadway and is a member of the New York Alumnae Chapter. Instruments slated for donation to Instruments slated for donation to the Kasese the Kasese Local Musical Association (KALOMA) project, Local Musical Association (KALOMA) project, located in the Kasese District of Uganda. located in the Kasese District of Uganda. THE KASESE LOCAL MUSICAL ASSOCIATION

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