Tau Beta Sigma

Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band Sorority (, colloquially referred to as TBSigma or TBS) is a co-educational recognition and service sorority for collegiate band members. It was established at Texas Technological College in 1946. The sorority has over 3,800 active members in 120 active chapters, and over 40,000 alumni.

Since 1946, Tau Beta Sigma has been recognized by Kappa Kappa Psi as "an equal affiliated organization with a parallel purpose, function, and role in the college and university band setting", and the two organizations hold joint conventions. The two organizations contribute to a national publication called The Podium.

History

Overview

Tau Beta Sigma was founded at Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) in the fall of 1939.

During these initial meetings of 1939–40, the women elected officers and began work on sorority crests and jewelry. The first officers of the organization were president Wava Banes, vice-president Emily SoRelle, secretary Lillian Horner, treasurer Nita Furr, reporter Barbara Griggs, and faculty sponsor D. O. Wiley. SoRelle provided all of the sketch work on the emblem and shield that were adopted as the official emblems of the sorority. However, two of the founding members, Wava and Emily, graduated at the end of the spring 1940 term. As band enrollment changed due to participation in World War II, the girls of the Tech Bands continued to develop the fledgling organization. By October 1941, TBS had begun communications with the national executive secretary of Kappa Kappa Psi for assistance in becoming a national organization. Originally located on the campus of Oklahoma State University, the National Headquarters of Tau Beta Sigma is housed in Stillwater Station, the retired Stillwater Santa Fe Depot in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Ties to other organizations

In addition to the close relationship with Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma has historical and current relationships with several other organizations. One such relationship is with Sigma Alpha Iota, an international fraternity for women with a strong interest in music.

In 1999, joint statements were issued by the leadership of Tau Beta Sigma and Sigma Alpha Iota, along with Kappa Kappa Psi and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, affirming "that there are equally important roles for Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Sigma Alpha Iota, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Tau Beta Sigma to fulfill on any campus where our chapters mutually exist, now or in the future. Each organization possesses a distinct mission and, as a result, fulfills a unique and vital role in the musical environment of a college campus" and "A member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia or Sigma Alpha Iota can hold simultaneous membership in Kappa Kappa Psi or Tau Beta Sigma, subject to his/her own interests and the eligibility requirements of the other organizations. The same holds true for a member of Kappa Kappa Psi or Tau Beta Sigma about membership in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia or Sigma Alpha Iota."

Symbols

Tau Beta Sigma's motto is "Tau Beta Sigma for Greater Bands". Its colors are white and blue. Its flower is the American Beauty red rose.

The Women in Music Speaker Series engages members of Tau Beta Sigma by providing them with the opportunity to meet and talk with women in various aspects of the music profession. This includes professional performers, music therapists, music educators, and more. The program aims to promote women's voices in the music field by offering them a platform to share their experiences. It was launched in 1997 during the district convention season, and notable speakers in recent years have included performer Cora Coleman-Dunham, composer Julie Giroux, and Captain Michelle Rakers, the assistant director of "The President's Own" Marine Band.

Other national programs include the Crescendo youth initiative and the Bandswomen Networking Program. Tau Beta Sigma also administers an alumni association open to members and friends of both organizations.

Programs with Kappa Kappa Psi

National Intercollegiate Band

thumb|First National Intercollegiate Band, 1947

The National Intercollegiate Band (NIB) is a concert band, sponsored by honorary band fraternity and sorority Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, that performs every two years at the national convention of the two organizations. Organized in 1947, the NIB is the oldest national intercollegiate band in the United States and is open to all collegiate band members regardless of membership in Kappa Kappa Psi or Tau Beta Sigma.

Commissioning program

Since 1953, Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma have commissioned a new work for wind band to be premiered at almost every National Intercollegiate Band concert. This program was begun to add to the wind repertoire under the direction of Grand President Hugh McMillen, and is the longest-running commissioning project in the United States. A number of these commissioned compositions have garnered national acclaim, including Robert Russell Bennett's Symphonic Songs for Band and Karel Husa's Concerto for Trumpet and Wind Orchestra. In the years following the start of the national commissioning program, local chapters have begun to commission new band works themselves, such as Frank Ticheli's An American Elegy, in memory of the Columbine High School massacre.

right|thumb|National headquarters at the Santa Fe Stillwater Depot

Governance

The sorority is governed by its national council that is elected at biennial national conventions.

Debra Dene Barnes (Gamma Alpha), Miss America 1968
William "Count" Basie, musician
Beth Brown, astrophysicist
Velvet Brown (Honorary, Eta Delta), tubist
Karen Carpenter, singer
Richard Carpenter, singer
John Denver, singer
Deesha Dyer, White House social secretary
Sheila E. (Honorary, Eta Delta), percussionist
Dionne Warwick, singer
Dianna Williams, dance instructor and star of Lifetime's Bring It!