The women’s music fraternity Sigma Alpha Iota held its end-of-semester concert on Nov. 19. 

The concert, entitled “New Horizons,” featured the 10 members of SAI in nine solo and ensemble pieces.

“Since the theme was ‘New Horizons,’ all of the songs were about travel or finding home in some way,” said SAI sophomore Fiona Mulley.

This was Mulley’s first time performing with SAI.

“I think everyone was having so much fun because we really appreciate making music together, and that energy was just so positive,” Mulley said.

SAI planned to disband in the spring of 2022, but was able to continue in this semester. The fraternity received a wide amount of donor support and support from college peers, and has been able to expand its recruiting efforts. 

“The concert almost feels like a resurrection, and I am just looking forward to reestablishing a presence and credibility on campus,” Mulley said.

SAI has welcomed several new members this semester alone, including sophomores Emily Griffith, Rachel Houts, Fiona Mulley, Katrin Surkan, and Phoebe VanHeyningen.

“I am one of five new members, and SAI has doubled in size since the semester began,” Mulley said.

Sophomore Libby Gannon said SAI has grown not just in size, but as a community.

“I knew a few of the girls in SAI last year, and they seem so much more happy and excited to be a part of the group this year,” Gannon said.

The concert began with the SAI chorale, in which every member participated.

“I heard the chorale in the past, and it was heartwarming to see them perform it with all of the new additions,” sophomore and music department employee Sophie Webster said.

Webster recorded the concert professionally for the Hillsdale College music department, and said that around 35 people were in attendance.

“We’ve wanted to make music together since last semester, and discovered that our vocal ranges blend really well,” Mulley said. “We loved singing a bluegrass song where those harmonies could be at the front. The theme of the song is about homecoming and celebration, and so it was a great fit.” 

However, Mulley’s favorite song was Bing Crosby’s “Snow,” during which pianist Esdras Blackwell, as well as vocalists Nathan Malawey and Kevin Pynes, joined SAI members Griffith and Mulley.

“‘Snow’ was so exciting to sing,” Mulley said. “We got to bring in some of our other friends, and I loved looking at my song partners and interacting with them during the performance.”

SAI members hope to use more instrumental talents of the group in future concerts, according to Mulley. Mulley accompanied “From This Valley” on guitar, and Blockhus accompanied several acts on piano.

“Emily Rose plays violin, I also play cello, and some of the other members play electric guitar and percussion,” Mulley said.

Many members originally became exposed to SAI through the college’s theater department, said fraternity leader Mikela St. John. 

Because of this, St. John said she chose Jukebox the Ghost’s “Hollywood” as the first song of the night, to reflect SAI’s theatrical involvement. SAI songmaster Ollie Blockhus accompanied on piano. 

The rest of the concert was a combination of classic and modern songs like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong’s “Midnight in Vermont,” and Harry Styles’ “Sweet Creature.”

Webster said that the different musical backgrounds of SAI allows them to sing a variety of songs.

“I am a sucker for a barbershop quartet like ‘Snow,’” Webster said. “SAI has the ability to sing a variety of classical, musical theater, and popular songs, and it was great to hear that.”