By Ainsley Green, Staff Writer
Gettysburg College’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI) hosted their annual Benefit Recital. (Photo Ainsley Green/The Gettysburgian)
On Friday, March 1, Gettysburg College’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI) hosted their annual Benefit Recital at 7:30 p.m. in Paul Recital Hall. “Harmonies Unveiled” was the fitting title of the performance as it featured pieces exclusively by female and non-binary composers which may have been rarely heard by the audience before attending.
The recital welcomed the musicians of the college campus to sign up and be a part of the event alongside the members of SAI, whose pieces were intermixed among the program. The SAI members’ outfits coordinated and were meant to reflect the music sorority’s colors, red and white, and flower, the red rose. There was a short welcome speech by SAI President Abbey Jemison ’24 which highlighted the mission of SAI and its values. Jemison gave a brief history of the sorority and its purpose.
“Here at Gettysburg in the Epsilon Beta chapter, we strive to achieve those goals by posting news-related events, attending each others’ recitals, partnering with other organizations on or outside of campus, and so much more,” Jemison said.
The first piece performed was “The Spirit of SAI” by Aagot Borge, with Jemison on the piano and the Sigma Alpha Iota members singing. The piece communicated the values of the sorority and served as an introduction to the themes they hoped to convey. Next, a work of four short Italian songs of varying moods and tempos called “Quattro liriche dai Rubaiyat di Omar Kayam” by Italian singer and composer Elsa Respighi were sung by Adela Holohan ’24, who was accompanied by Scott Myers ’27 on the piano.
SAI member Kelsey Hull ’25 performed a solo flute piece entitled “Nocturne” by Lili Boulanger.
“My favorite part about SAI is the connections I make with fellow musicians from different performance groups and the people I have met that I can spend time with around the Conservatory,” Hull stated. “It has impacted my musicianship by exposing me to new pieces of music that are performed by other members.”
For the next pieces on the program, a few non-SAI members of the Sunderman Conservatory and the campus community took the stage to showcase their talents on various instruments. Wilder Condori Obregon ’25 sang “I Wish You Love” by Laufey, an Icelandic singer-songwriter who has risen to fame for her jazz and classical-inspired pop music. Jess Schaefer ’24 performed the exciting “Allegro appassionato” first movement of “Piano Sonata in C Minor, Op. 21” by Cecile Chaminade, a French composer and pianist of the Romantic era. Myers accompanied again for Sydney Topoleski ’27, who sang “Waterbird” by Gwyneth Walker, a piece full of energy and beautiful harmonies between the two musicians. “Rhapsody No. 1,” a solo violin piece by Jessie Montgomery, was performed by SAI officer JJ Jordan ’24, showcasing their talents on the instrument. Athena Komitas ’26 then performed a solo piano piece entitled “Metska doprava (City Traffic)” by Czech composer Katerina Ruzickova, which had lots of musical effects to illustrate the commotion of traffic in an artistic way.
“Harmonies Unveiled” was the performance’s title as it featured pieces exclusively by female and non-binary composers. (Photo Ainsley Green/The Gettysburgian)
Jocie Little ’25 is another SAI member who helped make the recital possible.
“Planning and performing in the benefit recital was such a rewarding experience. Each performer beautifully contributed to the recital; we are so grateful so many people were interested in supporting SAI,” Little said.
Regarding the recital being an “incredibly important” compilation of works composed by female and non-binary composers, Little stated, “Through the music of the composers and supporting the work of SAI Philanthropies, Inc. we hope to continue helping women empowering women.”
Little sang “How Could I Ever Know?” by Lucy Simon along with Jordan, who accompanied her on the piano.
Jemison performed in the recital once again yet on the french horn, playing “III. Tuttarana” from “Khirkiyaan” by Reena Esmail with other members of a student brass quintet. This included Jacob Hunkins ’24 on the trumpet, Ben Casinelli ’26 on the trumpet, Michael Tropp ’25 on the trombone and Liz Callan ’26 on the tuba. The five came together for a stellar performance of the piece. The recital finished with SAI members’ performance of “Sigma Alpha Iota Chorale” by Margaret Blackburn.
Admission for the recital was free to the public, but SAI encouraged donating at the door, for all of the proceeds were set to be contributed to SAI Philanthropies, Inc. One example of the philanthropy’s work is Bold Notes, a project to support visually impaired musicians by means of printing enlarged sheet music and more.
For more information about Sigma Alpha Iota at Gettysburg College and future recitals and fundraisers, you can follow their Instagram @sai_epsilonbeta or access their official website at https://www.sai-national.org/.
