After the lights dimmed in the Harriet Fulton Theatre last Wednesday evening, the brothers of Phi Mu Alpha took the stage to perform for a generous audience of classical music lovers in the “Phi Mu Alpha Musicale,” sponsored by the Department of Music.

To start the program, the Sigma Psi Choir ascended on a step platform to sing “Hail Sinfonia”, a traditional Phi Mu Alpha song, when an apparent glitch in the construction of the stands allowed a choir member to stumble, to the amusement of the audience.
Daniel Spencer and Scott Roberts collaborated in a French horn and piano duet to play the smooth “Nell.” Marimba player Bryan Scott impressed the audience with his sprightly rendition of “Marimba Concerto Suite.”

Jason Eckford and William Sharmann, together with Lantonio Jackson and Tony Ison, performed the jovial “Wabash Cannon Ball” as a euphonium and tuba quartet. Marimba player Benjamin Martin delivered his somber interpretation of “Adventures of Ivan” before the Sigma Psi Choir sang another traditional song, “Red and Black.” Pianist Linda Farmer accompanied the choir in “Companions All” before she and trumpet player Steven Stewart performed the stately “All ‘Antica.” Andrew Hampton and Steven Westbrook, both on trumpet, together with Daniel Spencer, Justin Condron and Kevin Ward, on French horn, trombone, and tuba respectively, performed the bold “Kyrie.”

Marimba player Clint Rawls, along with djembe and hooves player Julie Hill, awed the crowd with their eclectic version of “Ghanaia.” The Musicale concluded with the Sigma Psi Choir singing their “Parting Song.”

But the highlight of the evening occurred in the Fine Arts Building lobby, where the Phi Mu Alpha brothers gathered to sing the traditional “Vive L ’Amour” to the departing audience.

The Rev. Elwood Doss, chapter advisor for Phi Mu Alpha, said, “The members of Phi Mu Alpha make a commitment to promote the cause of music in America and to support the university in every way that they can. Because of their common bond of music, they enjoy a close brotherhood and camaraderie. They are a real asset to the Department of Music in particular, and to the university as a whole.”

“The choir has been working really hard. We’ve really been focusing on our musicianship and continuing in our everlasting brotherhood,” said Sigma Psi Choir director Steven Westbrook.

“The show was very well organized and very enjoyable,” said junior Lauren Bivens. Sophomore Heather Weirs also commented on the show, saying, “You can tell they put a lot of hard work into it.”

“It was a friendly performance in which the reward came from the love of the music we played,” said performer Benjamin Martin.

“We’ve been putting this together since the beginning of the semester. It’s a lot of hard work trying to fit the 4-part harmony together. It takes the efforts of everybody to learn their parts. But with the help of our choral director Mark Simmons, we thankfully put on a great show. A special thank you goes to the instrumental music group that helped to make our program a success,” said choir member Kevin Ward.