Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • Spring 2024 19 Alumnae person. It translated into me being a better speaker, a better presenter, better at studying and preparing. All that work in music had an obvious, positive effect on my ability to do better work as an arts advocate. In college (eta Pi Chapter at Christopher Newport University), SAI offered actual leadership roles and opportunities to give back to the community and just be very hands-on in all the things I believed in. I had a tiny number of female role models growing up. Suddenly, through SAI it felt like I had dozens." at comfort zone of music continues in Megan's life through her participation in the Buffalo Silver Band. Here she said "I usually race into band, almost late, dragging my kids behind me. I'm trying to calm my breathing down and must immediately shi gears and just start playing. e band is a great ensemble that has been playing together forever and that is invested in each other. So, every week, in spite of being a single Mom with an absolutely insane life that most of the time feels like it's about to spin off the rails…every week for two hours I still get to just be a musician. I may not have it all figured out yet, but I want my kids to see me taking life by the horns and being happy and keeping band and SAI in my life." By Emily Gallagher T his past spring I was selected as a presenter for the conference "e Expertise of the Musical Amateur" at KunstUniversität Graz, hosted from October 12-13, 2023 in Graz, Austria. I first learned about the conference while I was living in Vienna completing a Fulbright Scholarship with Talespin-Musical Tales for Big and Small, a production company that creates original children's concerts to accompany multilingual picture books. During my Fulbright I was also a student at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien, where I earned a certificate through Fulbright in the musicology department. e conference in Graz marked the first time I presented research as an independent scholar. e theme of the conference focused on the ways we define the terms "amateur" and "professional" in the classical music industry and what those musicians whom we label as "amateur" have to offer in terms of artistry and expertise. Presentations ranged on topics from Youtube Music eory, to Chinese Folk Hymns, to Amateur Recording Techniques, to e Relationship Between Gender and Amateurism. As this was a bilingual event, all conference activities were conducted in English and German. My paper, titled, "e Nature of Amateurism in an Oversaturated Industry," focused on young artist programs in the United States and the endless, oen exploitative cycle that singers find themselves in aer finishing their studies. My research included a survey of over 300 singers in this "young artist" tier to whom I posed questions about how they define the term professional and amateur in their own lives and experiences. I delved into the structure and pay scales of young artist programs and proposed possible solutions for creating a more sustainable and economically equitable model for the future. While at the conference, I had the opportunity to network with performers, music theorists, and musicologists from around the world, and it was energizing and inspiring to learn about the work that they have been doing. e trip was also a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and friends made during my Fulbright year. I am incredibly grateful to have been a recipient of an SAI Philanthropies, Inc. Professional Development grant, which helped to cover travel and accommodation expenses for the conference. Emily Gallagher, an initiate of Alpha Mu Chapter at Carnegie Mellon University, was a member of the Pittsburgh Alumnae Chapter and will soon affiliate with the Pasadena Alumnae Chapter. Learn more at: www.emilygallaghersoprano.com What Makes Someone a Professional? At right, Megan's favorite piece At right, Megan's favorite piece from her work as a stained glass artist. from her work as a stained glass artist.

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