Sigma Alpha Iota

30 Summer 2026 • sai-national.org grown over the years since the famous Hot Five record, Heebie Jeebies, was recorded in 1926. Armstrong's ability to come up with improvised vocal licks on this recording was a skill he had developed in his vocal quartets in New Orleans as a young boy. When the hastily-scribbled lyrics he wrote for the recording fell to the floor after the master take had started, Armstrong simply fell back on his street corner chops to scat sing his way through the rest of the tune. Armstrong crossed into the mainstream pop charts with his 1929 double-sided release, "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" backed with "No One Else But You." Simultaneously, he landed a new residency at Harlem's Connie's Inn, one of New York City's premiere jazz clubs, billed as Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra. He also rushed down to Broadway each night between sets to appear in Fats Waller's hit musical Connie's Hot Chocolates to belt out the show-stopping number, "Ain't Misbehavin'," to rave reviews from the mainstream press. By the end of 1929, Louis Armstrong had become what Riccardi describes as the "first Black pop star." Riccardi makes a convincing case that the improbable journey from street urchin to pop star was in large part fueled by Armstrong's inquisitive mind, as he hungered to learn more about music, life, and human relationships. What truly separates Louis Armstrong from every other musician at the time was Armstrong's tremendous heart. It was the engine that fueled his own inimitable style, one that still resonates with new listeners today. Stomp Off, Let's Go represents one of the most thoroughly-researched jazz biographies of any musician from this era. Along with his two other Armstrong biographies, Riccardi's three volumes represent the definitive story of one of the most renowned musicians of all time. Keith Hatschek is Professor Emeritus from the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music (Eta Omega Chapter), where he was initiated as a Friend of the Arts in 2004. He is the author of four books including The Real Ambassadors: Dave and Iola Brubeck and Louis Armstrong Challenge Segregation, which received the 2023 ASCAP Deems Taylor/ Virgil Thomson Award for Best Book on Popular Music. He's currently writing a new book about America's music museums. 2026 BIENNIAL NAFME MUSIC RESEARCH AND TEACHER EDUCATION CONFERENCE NAfME welcomes the participation of future, current, and retired music educators, music teacher educators, administrators, and community and corporate partners who are passionate about the critical role of music education for all. Attendees will benefit from current research, policy discourse, and dialogue concerning the human experience in music teaching and learning. Keynote speaker is Pedro Antonio Noguera, PhD, Dean of the Rossier School of Education, and Distinguished Professor of Education at University of Southern California (USC). LOCATION: Hilton Long Beach, Long Beach, California EVENT DATES: September 30–October 3, 2026 EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DEADLINE: August 12, 2026 WEBSITE: https://bit.ly/4uJhIKn IAWM PAULINE ALDERMAN AWARDS The International Alliance for Women in Music grants the Pauline Alderman Awards every two years, for outstanding scholarship on women in music in three categories: a book-length monograph about women in music, in any academic format; a journal article or essay dealing with an aspect of women in music; and a bibliographic study, research tool, or reference work about women in music. The grants are open to any individual or organization with current membership of IAWM. SUBMISSIONS ACCEPTED: October 1–November 15, 2026 WEBSITE: https://bit.ly/4dTDDau WOMEN BAND DIRECTORS INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS WBDI scholarships are given annually to women enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate instrumental music program, with the intent of becoming a band director. The Women Band Directors International will award scholarships of various amounts designed to salute the people for whom they are named and to support young women presently preparing to be band directors. APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED: September 1–November 1, 2026 WEBSITE: www.womenbanddirectors.org/scholarships NATIONAL FEDERATION OF MUSIC CLUBS COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS The National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) offers more than $750,000 in competition and award prizes on the local, state and national level. The Biennial Young Artist and Ellis Duo-Pianists competitions award a total of $92,000 in awards and two years of performance bookings. Additional competitions are sponsored by the Federation in a wide range of categories, including voice, instrumental music, composition, dance, conducting, handicapped and visually impaired, and music therapy. NFMC also sponsors more than 38 annual and biennial awards for students desiring to attend the 20 sponsored Summer Music Centers. WEBSITE: www.nfmc-music.org/competitions-awards SAI SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS Several opportunities are available every year to members of Sigma Alpha Iota through SAI Philanthropies, Inc. WEBSITE: bit.ly/saiphilsga Otunities Bk Reviews

• Cover