Sigma Alpha Iota

10 Winter 2026 • sai-national.org Grace Notes S igma Alpha Iota honors the life and legacy of sister Barbara Staton, a distinguished musician, educator, and leader whose influence enriched classrooms, concert halls, churches, and communities across the nation. Barbara passed away on October 29, 2025 at the age of 92, leaving behind a lasting legacy of creativity, compassion, and unwavering service. A proud SAI sister for many decades, Barbara's contributions to the Fraternity were both profound and deeply felt. She served as Chairman of the Inter-American Music Awards (IAMA), where her vision and leadership helped elevate the program's artistic impact. Her exceptional dedication was recognized in 2006 when she received the Dorothy Whinery Special Leadership Award, one of SAI's highest honors. Throughout her service, Barbara embodied the values of sincerity, friendship, and the advancement of American music. Beyond her service to SAI, Barbara was an internationally respected music educator and curriculum author. Together with her husband, Dr. Merrill Staton, she coauthored widely-used K–8 music education series, including Music 1, 2, 3 and Music and You, which shaped musical learning for millions of children across the United States. She became one of the first music-and-movement television personalities and curriculum coordinators for Georgia Educational Television Services, a division of the Georgia Department of Education. Her early work in television programming— including creative series such as Our Musical World and DoReMe—brought music education into homes and schools in innovative and joyful ways. Barbara's artistic spirit flourished in every community she touched. She was granted a National Endowment for the Arts for the Atlanta Contemporary Dance Company, which she co-founded. She supported music programs across Georgia and Florida, and served on boards for prominent arts organizations including The Perlman Music Program, Arist Series Concerts of Sarasota, and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice Philanthropy Society. A gifted performer and lifelong advocate for accessibility in the arts, she believed deeply that music should be available to all people, a conviction that guided her life's work. Her faith also played a central role in her musical life. At Peace Presbyterian Church in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, Barbara sang in the choir, supported instrumental programs, served as a Stephen Minister, and contributed her own compositions—including setting the church's mission statement to music. She gave generously of her time, talents, and resources, leaving behind a legacy gift that will continue to support music ministries for generations to come. Barbara earned her Bachelor of Science in Music Education and Master of Arts in Dance and Related Arts from Texas Woman's University, where she was initiated into SAI by the Iota Omega chapter. During her studies, she was named to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities and later inducted into the International Who's Who in Education. She was honored with the esteemed Distinguished Alumna Award in 1984. Barbara affiliated with alumnae chapters in New York, Orlando, and Sarasota/Manatee, and served as Vice President and Editor for Tau Province. As a member of the Circle of Pearls, Barbara supported the Fraternity and SAI Philanthropies, Inc. through People-to- People projects such as the SAI Redevelopment Fund for Haiti and as an underwriter for the 2009 IAMA Concert. She was a recipient of the National Honor Certificate, Sword of Honor, Rose of Honor, Rose of Dedication, Ring of Excellence, and the Dorothy Whinery Special Leadership Award. To her family, friends, and sisters in Sigma Alpha Iota, Barbara will always be remembered for her warm smile, her boundless energy, and her belief that music has the power to uplift every soul it touches. Her life stands as a testament to the SAI mission: "to uphold the highest standards of music... and to further the development of music in America and throughout the world." Sister Barbara Staton's harmony continues—echoing in the students she inspired, the programs she shaped, and the sisterhood she cherished. Barbara Staton A Life in Music, Service, and Sisterhood Staton and 2006 IAMA Competition Winner Liduino Pitombeira Staton and 2006 IAMA Competition Winner Liduino Pitombeira

• Cover