Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • SPRING 2018 • PAN PIPES 15 T hree years ago the LaGrange and Oak Park Alumnae Chapters sat down to strategize on ways to boost revenue in order to fund and expand their scholarship programs. e LaGrange chapter offers the Elsie Sterrenberg String Scholarship Competition to fourth through twelh grade string students in two divisions. e Oak Park chapter offers the Mabel Biever Music Camp scholarship for junior high students' summer music camp tuition and the Graduate Music Education Scholarship for Sigma Alpha Iota members currently pursuing graduate work in music education. With school and lesson fees climbing, the chapters wanted to be able to give more back to their communities by increasing the amounts of the scholarships. ey set out to create a series of unique and fun fundraisers. e first two years the chapters hosted "Shop And Indulge," a vendor and artist fair at a local church. In 2018, the chapter members elected to switch things up and host a benefit concert featuring many levels of SAI performers. For each event, the key element to raise funds was a program book featuring ads from local businesses and organizations, plus solicitation of donations. On Sunday, Feb. 11, the Oak Park and LaGrange Alumnae Chapters pulled off a terrific joint annual scholarship benefit concert at First Congregational Church of Western Springs. It was a special aernoon of fine performances from our past scholarship winners. Featured were Ellen Clapp on piano, Tony Lu on flute, and Nicole Weirui Ton on violin. Also performing were Beta Chpter initiate Beatrice Makdah on accordion and the extraordinary voices of Anima led by SAI National Honorary member Emily Ellsworth. e four students played works by Granados and Venetian Gondola Song by Mendelsson on piano, Ballade by Perilhou on flute, Barber on violin, and Concerto No. 1 in g minor, Saltarello, allegro vivace by Gall-Rini on accordion. e highlight of the program was a tribute to Ellsworth, artistic director of Anima – the Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus. Anima is one of the leading children and youth choral organizations in North America. With a rich heritage of 53 years, it has served as an artistic and educational model. e chorus is dedicated to transforming young lives through excellence in music education and choral singing. Its six ensembles serve children aged five to eighteen from more than 35 different Chicagoland communities, with outreach programs reaching hundreds of additional children annually. International tours have taken the Chorus to six continents. Anima performed works by Bernard Kruger, Stars Tonight by Judith Herrington, Lyn Williams, Agnus Dei by Ivo Antognini, Akakomborerwa (from Shona Mass) by Lee R. Kesselman, and Jim Papoulis. A portion of the proceeds from the event are being used to create a special "Emily Ellsworth Scholarship" for Anima. e concert was a resounding success musically and financially – and was followed by a reception. It was a glorious aernoon and perhaps, in a small way, we did a little bit of "changing the world through music!" — Heather Prince and Sally Sloane, Editor, Oak Park Alumnae Chapter Changing The World Through Music SAIS IN ACTION Past recipients Ellen Clapp, Beatrice Makdah, Nicole Weirui Ton, and Tony Lu performed at the joint scholarship benefit concert held by the Oak Park and LaGrange Alumnae Chapters in February. Anima - the Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus performs during the benefit concert.

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