Sinfonia was born on October 6, 1898 at the New England Conservatory in Boston, when a group of thirteen young men under the guidance of Ossian Everett Mills met "to consider the social life of the young men students of that institution" and "to devise ways and means by which it might be improved." Mills, bursar of the Conservatory, sought to create an Order in which men with a shared love of music could develop the virtues of manhood in themselves and in their fellows.

Sinfonia became a national fraternity on October 6, 1900, with the admission of a group of men at the Broad Street Conservatory in Philadelphia. Since that time Sinfonia has grown into the largest music fraternity in the world, with more than 150,000 initiates, and chapters on over 200 college and university campuses across the nation.

For over a century, Sinfonians in nearly every field of study and professional endeavor have transformed the face of music in America. Today, the Brotherhood represents a diverse group of individuals spanning the nation, who continue the proud tradition of advancing the Fraternity's Object.

Sinfonia is a Brotherhood of men bound together for mutual helpfulness. Its purpose is not only to bring men together as friends, but also to provide a network of brothers with whom men can commune and renew their zeal – a support network that helps the individual to meet the challenges that face him in his daily life. By teaching men who are united as brothers to live their lives according to the noble virtues set forth in the Fraternity's Initiation Ritual, Sinfonia builds better, stronger, broader individuals who are able to live in sympathy and in harmony with their Fraternity brothers and their fellow man. The Initiation Ritual of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, which will mark the transition into full membership, is one of the most meaningful and beautiful of the Greek tradition. The dedication to the advancement of universal Truths and brotherly association exemplified in the Ritual are the foundation of individual fraternal friendship, chapter unity, and national solidarity in the promotion of Sinfonia's dual mission: the making of men and the uplift of mankind.

Sinfonians share a love of music that unites them as brothers with a common interest. The Fraternity teaches men to develop themselves and their art, not for the sake of art itself, but as a means of enriching the lives of others. Through a multitude of chapter, provincial, and national events, Sinfonia offers unlimited opportunities for performance, community music outreach, and other activities designed to develop a true appreciation for the power of music to uplift the soul.

Sinfonia's collegiate chapters participate in a broad range of activities emphasizing brotherhood, service, and performance in music. Chapters take music into the community by singing at hospitals and homes for the elderly; sponsor concerts of American music, jazz and choral festivals, all-campus sings and Broadway-style reviews; provide a large variety of performing ensembles ranging from big bands to barbershop quartets; commission new works; bring prominent performers and clinicians to their campuses; and take part in a variety of other social and musical activities. The possibilities for participation in musical activities are limited only by the boundaries of imagination, desire, and commitment.

Sinfonia provides many exciting opportunities for the development of social and leadership skills in an atmosphere of brotherhood and mutual support. Leadership roles may be assumed from nearly the first day an individual is pledged to become an active member of the Fraternity. Beyond the chapter, annual province workshops and national events allow members to become more involved and to develop meaningful friendships with other musical students across the nation.

A common phrase heard among brothers in the Fraternity is "Once a Sinfonian, Always a Sinfonian." The spirit of this phrase has fostered alumni loyalty for more than one hundred years. As an alumni member, the opportunities to remain active with the Fraternity are limitless. Alumni associations, scattered throughout the country, provide more formalized ways for alumni Sinfonians to gather together and further the ideals and Object of the Fraternity.

[From sinfonia.org. For more information on the history of Phi Mu Alpha, please visit the national website.]

What is Sinfonia?

Sinfonia is music.

Music is the common bond that forms the basis of our Fraternity. Phi Mu Alpha offers each man an opportunity for fellowship, performance, self-expression, growth, and increased aesthetic awareness in music and provides a creative atmosphere in which each brother can further develop his talents and perfect his craft. Sinfonia builds a framework for future professional bonds of musicianship. Sinfonia creates an atmosphere in which musicians grow and learn from one another the essential elements of their craft, and provides a basis of mutual support in music. Sinfonia offers diversification: singers can experiment with secondary instruments, instrumentalists can become singers, and those who have chosen another profession, yet who still possess an abiding love for music, are given an opportunity for expression, growth and performance. Sinfonia offers the opportunity for each member to participate in alternate styles and modes of performance through music outside the classroom, and provides a means through which university and college students can bring music to the community. Music is Sinfonia's reason for existence and serves as the common ground which relates all its members nation-wide. Sinfonians promote the cause of music in America in all its forms for all the right reasons.

Sinfonia is brotherhood.

Sinfonia is a fraternity which offers each member the opportunity for brotherhood at its best. Phi Mu Alpha forms a lifetime bond of fraternity through common experiences and a love of music. Brotherhood is a bond which transcends friendship and it gives each Sinfonian the power to leave secure territory and find the support he needs to experiment and develop his fullest potential. Sinfonia brings together men at the collegiate level who are just beginning to pursue music with those who are near graduation, giving younger members a base of experience and a level of performance from which to learn, and providing older Sinfonians with a continuing source of enthusiasm and inspiration. Brotherhood in Phi Mu Alpha teaches trust, sacrifice and mutual support. It allows each member to explore the range of his personality, and to grow not only as a musician, but also as a human being.

Sinfonia is professionalism.

Phi Mu Alpha is also described as "The Professional Fraternity for Men in Music." What is this professional component of Sinfonia? It is the attitude that governs everything we do. Professionalism is that quality which balances the various elements of Phi Mu Alpha. Professionalism is serious rehearsal for a quality performance. Professionalism is developing new members in a spirit of cooperative brotherhood. Of course, a professional fraternity has the literal aspect of promoting a given profession and improving the professional lives and career opportunities of its members. Phi Mu Alpha is no exception. But professionalism is much more than this. Professionalism guides the values and goals of the Fraternity by allowing nothing less than the best possible performance and conduct of each Sinfonian. Our professionalism sets us apart from the rest.

Sinfonia is a service.

The individual chapters of Phi Mu Alpha serve the school, serve the community, and serve the cause of music at large. Sinfonians provide many valuable services each year on the collegiate, professional, and alumni levels. Through support of the Sinfonia Foundation, money is made available for the commissioning of new works and for worthwhile projects. Sinfonians on campuses across the country work as valuable service organizations in their respective schools of music. Their services include ushering at recitals, sponsoring shows and guest artists, and providing aid to worthy students. This aspect of service cannot be overlooked as an integral part of Sinfonia.

Sinfonia is social.

Sinfonia offers fellowship among students of music. Whether in introducing new students to campus, or simply getting together for a Saturday night smoker, Phi Mu Alpha provides a social outlet for all Sinfonians. Sinfonia serves as the common ground where students can meet faculty, and where new students can make friends with other students of music. Sinfonia is a reason for people with a common interest in music to get together and interact with one another on a social level. This, too, is an important aspect of Sinfonia.

Sinfonia is a learning experience.

Through membership in Phi Mu Alpha, men with an interest in music as a profession or simply as an art can learn how to relate with other people, develop qualities of service and leadership, learn the value of self-sacrifice for the benefit of the whole, and further develop their musicianship. Sinfonia offers a set of goals and purposes and an atmosphere in which to pursue them. This can teach valuable skills to the college student on how to interact with modern society. No matter what experiences make up a brother's life as a Sinfonian, Sinfonia will certainly be an important learning experience.

Sinfonia is tradition.

As we approach the centennial of our founding in 1898, Phi Mu Alpha has already far exceeded the dreams of its founders; with over 200 chapters nationwide. Sinfonia is part of a rich tradition in American music which includes some of the greatest names of our time. Looking over the membership lists of Phi Mu Alpha is like looking at a veritable "Who's Who" in American music. And only time will tell what accomplishments will come of present and future Sinfonians. Sinfonia is a tradition on many American campuses and has been for many years, offering a proud history of fraternity in American Music. From its beginning at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Sinfonia has become a vibrant force in American music, and will continue to grow in that capacity in the future.

Sinfonia is growth.

Perhaps one of the most lasting and rewarding qualities of Phi Mu Alpha is the opportunity for personal growth it offers all its members. A Sinfonian gains experience in leadership, scholarship, organization, fundraising, social interaction, interpersonal relationships, musicianship, and performance, through his association with the Fraternity. Sinfonia can be an invaluable part of your college career, and a rewarding part of your life.

Sinfonia is fraternity in its purest sense.

Phi Mu Alpha is not a social fraternity, or a professional fraternity, or a service fraternity. It is all of these together, and more. Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is pure fraternity, combining the concepts of brotherhood and professionalism with social and service activities to give its members the best possible fraternal experience. Phi Mu Alpha offers a lasting bond of brotherhood that is based upon more than just social interaction. It gives each member all of the possible components of the fraternal experience to whatever extent the individual desires. In all of its constituent elements, Sinfonia is a truly unique experience in the fraternity.