It won’t be a wedding, but the women of Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity will have “something old, something new” for campus at their spring concert 8 p.m. on March 27 in McNamara Rehearsal Hall. The women will perform popular and traditional songs with members of men’s music fraternities Phi Mu Alpha and Mu Alpha.
Acts will range from solo renditions and duets to a last act sung by every member of SAI and arranged by junior Faith Liu, who is serving as program director, or songmistress, for the concert.
“The idea is to juxtapose more classic works with new material,” Liu said. “For instance, taking a pop song and turning it into a string quartet, or taking an old song and covering it in a new way.”
Popular artists featured include Fleet Foxes, Kelly Clarkson, Pat Benatar, and Evanescence, alongside classical, traditional, and original compositions.
The concert’s theme changes every year. Liu says that the theme is chosen to encompass a wide variety of acts while keeping the audience interested.
“We try to pay tribute to our dignity as musicians while staying really fun,” she said. ‘I’ve always been interested by the continuity and diversity within the musical tradition.”
SAI’s faculty adviser, Assistant Professor of Music Renée Clark, teaches music history, and Liu says that her ability to combine classical and modern forms of music in her classes was an inspiration in planning the concert.
Each number will be conceived by a member of SAI, but they often collaborate with other student musicians. Many numbers will be performed by large groups with diverse instrumentation.
Mu Alphans senior Addison Stumpf and junior Walker Mulley will be co-master of ceremonies.
“That in itself will be a riot!” Liu said.
“I’m really excited about it and it’s going to be a fantastic concert and all the acts are wonderful,” Stumpf said. “Everyone should come.”