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Women as Patronesses of Music:
Sigma Alpha Iota’s Role in American Music
Danielle Tully Music and Theater Arts  University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
The Nature of the Project
This project was created as part of the Department of
Music and Theater Arts’ “Year of Inclusivity.” The goal was
to spend a year studying both a history of music in general
and a specific focus on our department, to find issues of
inclusivity of minorities is our curriculum. I am a member of
the organization Sigma Alpha Iota, which is a music
fraternity made up of collegiate and alumni women, and
other musicians of high merit. The organization was founded
in 1903 to promote American women in music. Since its
founding, Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI) has supported American
women and men in their musical endeavors. The specific
focus of my project was SAI’s support of American
Composers. This fit into the “Year of Inclusivity” due to the
fact that the international organization was founded by and
is still run by women. The 7 founders are show here.
Pan’s Cottage at the MacDowell
Colony
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The MacDowell Colony is a secluded compound in
Peterborough, New Hampshire that has been designated
as a retreat for artists of all types.
It was created in honor of Edward MacDowell, a
renowned American Composer. His wife Marian
MacDowell started the colony at the composer’s long
time home.
Sigma Alpha Iota joined the project in 1918 by building
a cottage on the colony.
The idea was proposed at the Sigma Alpha Iota National
Convention in 1916. At this time there were only 11
chapters in existence. All members were collegiate
women or faculty alumni. The delegates at the
convention decided to go forward on the project, which
at that point had no funds. Two years later construction
began.
The cottage was named after the god Pan, of Greek
Mythology, who’s pipes are a symbol of Sigma Alpha
Iota.
Since it’s construction thousands of composers, writers,
and visual artists have retreated to Pan’s Cottage to
complete their work.
Since the building of Pan’s Cottage Sigma Alpha Iota
has taken on other projects at the MacDowell Colony.
During the 2006 National Convention, Sigma Alpha Iota
announced that they would be donating $75,000 to the
MacDowell colony. This money was used for a
restoration project to Edward MacDowell’s personal music
room. This room was where the composer worked and is
a central part of the MacDowell Colony’s propose.
Pan’s Cottage, MacDowell Colony,
Peterborough, New Hampshire
Epsilon Omicron Chapter’s
Commitment to Composition
Sigma Alpha Iota’s Support of
American Composers
 Sigma Alpha Iota has been hosting composition
competitions for 90 years.
 Today, Sigma Alpha Iota’s competitions are known as the
Inter-American Music Awards or IAMA’s. They are held
triennially.
The History of the Inter-American
Music Awards
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Epsilon Omicron Chapter is located at the University
of Wisconsin Eau Claire in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
The chapter has set goals to support composition by
SAI members and their colleagues in the Eau Claire
area.
In the past the chapter fund a residency with
composer Libby Larsen, who is a well known female
composer and a member of Sigma Alpha Iota
In the 2014-2015 year the chapter is planning to
host a composition competition for youth composers
in the Eau Claire area.
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The project is still in very early stages so more
details are not available at this time.
The 1920’s
 The first composition competition hosted by Sigma
Alpha Iota happened in 1924.
 The second was in 1926.
 These competitions were open to any Sigma Alpha Iota
member who had not been published.
The 1930s
 Throughout the 1930s decade Sigma Alpha Iota held
many competitions. The first was for Chorus, and then
one for Strings.
 These competitions were open to any American-Born
female.
 Both competitions had categories exclusively for Sigma
Alpha Iota members.
Sigma Alpha Iota
Code of Arms
The War Years
 Due to the political state of the country during the
early 1940’s there were no competitions held.
The New American Music Program
 In the Fall of 1948 Sigma Alpha Iota introduced their
new series of competitions, known as the American
Music Awards.
 The competitions were to be held in three year cycles.
 They were open to both American women and men
between the ages of 22 and 35
SAI Philanthropies Logo
The Modern Day IAMAs
 Since the creation of American Music Awards, the
competition has grown to include North, Central, and
South America and the name was changed to the
Inter-American Music Awards (IAMA).
 The IAMAs are open to any composer, man or
women, with no age regulations.
 The competitions are judged by a board of composerjudges. These judges are talented and renowned
composers, it is an honor to be chosen as a judge.
Many women have served as composer –judges to the
IAMAs.
Acknowledgements
This project was made possible through funds provided
by Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and
printing by Learning & Technology Services.