Sigma Alpha Iota

PAN PIPES • SPRING 2018 • sai-national.org 14 E dinboro University of Pennsylvania (EU) rests in Northwestern Pennsylvania and is home to the Zeta Upsilon chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota. EU is known for its liberal arts, huge amounts of snow, and its Scottish Heritage. It is one of a few universities in the country that has instituted a major in bagpiping and has a pipe band. Throughout the years, sisters of the Zeta Upsilon chapter have taken bagpiping lessons or performed with the university's pipe band. Mia Harvey, a current member of the Zeta Upsilon chapter, chose EU for this very reason. Mia started piping in 2010 with her family, and in 2012 she started to compete and have students of her own. Mia then came to Edinboro in the fall of 2016 with the intent of obtaining a degree in bagpiping. She joined the Zeta Upsilon chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota in the Spring of 2017 and became the first sister in the chapter's history to major in bagpiping. Not only is Mia a passionate about bagpiping, she also enjoys playing low brass instruments in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, and Jazz Band. When Mia isn't studying or spending time with her sisters, she is performing for EU's Alumni Association, University Choir, ROTC program, or standing on the sidelines of every EU football game to hype up the team. "I find it an honor to represent the Zeta Upsilon chapter and university the way I do," Mia said. "Edinboro has presented me the opportunity to follow a rare walk of life. Being able to perform bagpipes has allowed me to meet so many lifelong friends and travel around the country doing what I love! ... My sisters are so supportive! Whether it is attending concerts I perform in or giving me a ride to a gig, I always know that my sisters are there for me ... " — Caitlin Hamilton, Editor, Zeta Upsilon SAI Majors in Bagpiping SAIS IN ACTION At left, Mia Harvey performs in the Homecoming Parade with the Edinboro University pipe band. At right, Mia Harvey hangs out with University mascot, Maccato. produced it. "I wanted people to see that SAI is still active in the community," explained Gail Brow. "We hadn't done a concert in a long time, other than our scholarship competition and concert. What better way to get our name out in the community than to have a concert-- giving to the community, being performed at Liberty Hall which led into calling it "American Composers Concert" with all donations from the concert benefiting SAI Philanthropies, Inc. I also thought it may be a good recruitment tool for SAIs who aren't active and may wish to become active in the future. I had a wonderful team who worked diligently on the concert with me: Lauren Eliason, Kristen Hirlinger, Liska Yamada, Kelly Kasle, and Katerina Lynch." e committee is grateful to members of the Pasadena Alumnae Chapter, their family members, and members of the community who contributed to make this concert possible. e chapter is already preparing for our next American Composers Concert this fall, as we continue to promote the creation and performance of American music. — Kristen Hirlinger, American Composers Concert Committee, Pasadena Alumnae Chapter Members of the eleven-person ensemble that performed Rushidat's Introspective, made entirely of performers from the Pasadena Alumnae Chapter. Front row, left to right: Katerina Lynch (conductor), Akilah Watts, Emily Vantassell Martinez, Victoria Sabonjohn, Liska Yamada. Back row: Kendall Allen, Paula Kuhr, Tia Annis, Kristen Hirlinger, Lauren Eliason, Kelly Kasle. Not pictured: Lieza Hansen.

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