Sigma Alpha Iota performs recital

Enter a dimly lit room where a spotlight shines down upon a small stage signaling future performances. Listen to the sounds of an enchanting opera serenade, the soothing lullaby of flutes, clarinets and the sweet sounds of a wondrous chorus. A group of more than 10 students streamed through the doors of the rehearsal hall’s Room 116 as they listened to these melodies performed as part of Sigma Alpha Iota’s spring recital last Sunday at 8 p.m.

The Zeta Tau Chapter of the Sigma Alpha Iota international music fraternity, a Greek organization open to any student interested in music, was formed in 1976 and currently includes 28 active members, according to the organization’s website.

The group performed 10 acts at their spring recital. These acts ranged from operatic solos to full chorus performances, including such songs as the “Star-Spangled Banner,” “The Rose from the Rose” and “Weep You No More.”

Crystal Mannino, a 2009 graduate with a degree in sports management, came out to support her fellow sisters and to see the performance she felt was beautiful.

“I thought all the soloists did a great job,” Mannino said. “I’m a fan of the small group, that’s what my friend is in. It’s like a hidden gem. You don’t really hear a lot of this type of music in regular life, so, for me, someone who doesn’t really know anything, it’s … lucky to hear this kind of stuff.”

The recital also included two instrumental pieces, one featuring flutes and the other featuring clarinets, which performed “When We’ve Parted” and “Promenade from Pictures at an Exhibition,” respectively.

Junior Emma Asimos found her passion for the flute and music through her sisters’ own musical involvements. After two years playing in the UCF marching band, the forensic science major found SAI to be a perfect match.

“I love [music], and I came to college, and I … didn’t want to lose it,” Asimos said. “So I found Sigma Alpha Iota, and it seems like the girls are all so friendly and so open, and not a lot of us are music majors. So it’s really neat, [even though] there are plenty of music majors in it … there’s also a lot that’s not. It’s a nice way to hold onto the music and share that love and that passion with people.”

After SAI’s brother fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha, came out to show their support halfway through the program, the recital concluded with a chorus performance featuring all SAI sisters. Later on, what Asimos described as natural for SAI, the group suddenly began to sing their fraternity song for their faculty adviser, Dave Schreier.

Schreier, assistant director of athletic bands at UCF, felt that their performance was one of the best to date.

“I thought it was great and some of the best they’ve ever done,” Schreier said. “They’ve got really good leadership now and just a focus of what they should be doing. They’ve taken more pride in what they present than they have in the last few years.”

Schreier, commenting that these students “worked really hard, and … just want to have an audience,” felt that the support for music was increasingly important.

“I think any time you can hear really good music, and you have a chance to, you [should],” Schreier said. “Music is integral to our society, and this is where the study of music happens on campus. You get exposed to a lot of different kinds of music through the department of music, from jazz to classical to pop, and it’s important to support the arts.”

Asimos felt that performances, including SAI’s recital, gave students the chance to fully open themselves up to music.

“I always think it’s fun to share others’ passions and just to see other people do something that they love and do it well,” Asimos said. “No one can say [they] don’t like music: everyone has a freaking iPod. You don’t know what kind of music you like until you hear it, and so you never know what you’re going to like until you find out. It’s a range, and it’s an experience. We’re just all about the music.”