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.