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Kappa Gamma Psi
ΚΓΨ
FoundedDecember 11, 1913; 110 years ago (1913-12-11)
New England Conservatory of Music
TypeProfessional
AffiliationIndependent
EmphasisMusic Performance
ScopeNational
Chapters13 (all inactive)
Headquarters
USA
Website Official website

Kappa Gamma Psi (ΚΓΨ) is a performing arts fraternity in the United States that was founded in 1913. Its last surviving collegiate chapter (Iota) went inactive in 2008, but the National Organization continues and is founding alumni chapters. Its membership was restricted to males, before it became coeducational in the 1970s.

Founding

Kappa Gamma Psi was founded on December 11, 1913 by twelve faculty members at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.

Chapters

These are the chapters of Kappa Gamma Psi. Active chapters noted in bold, inactive chapters noted in italics. Iota chapter, at Ithaca College in upstate New York (founded in 1929), was the last active chapter, becoming dormant in 2008.[ citation needed] Members of several former chapters remain in contact and gather periodically.

Name Chartered Institution Location Status Notes Reference
Alpha December 11, 19131968 New England Conservatory of Music Boston, MA Inactive There was no fraternity housing for this chapter, only a chapter room which was taken away in 1968 by the school, and the chapter went inactive. Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's
Beta March 21, 19161919 University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI Inactive All chapter members were killed in action while serving in World War I, chapter went in active. per James Wiltshire, former National President, Kappa Gamma Psi, 1970's-1986
Gamma 19231932, 19481976 Boston Conservatory of Music Boston, MA Inactive This chapter was a mix of theatre majors as well as music majors. Gamma was the last chapter to go inactive before Iota. per James Wiltshire, former National President, Kappa Gamma Psi, 1970's-1986.
Delta 19241956 University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT Inactive last confirmed existence, an early 1950's issue of the Gray and Black Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's
Epsilon 1 19241939 Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA Inactive charter transferred to the new Epsilon Chapter at Boston University in 1950 Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's
Epsilon 2 19501973 Boston University Boston, MA Inactive Charter was transferred from first Epsilon Chapter at Penn State University. Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's
Zeta 19271932 University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL Inactive went inactive during the Great Depression Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's
Eta 19271939 Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA Inactive Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's
Theta 19281938 Louisiana Polytechnic Institute Ruston, LA Inactive Now known as Louisiana Tech University. Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's
Iota 19292008 Ithaca College Ithaca, NY Inactive This was the last remaining active chapter.
Kappa 1929–1954 Chicago Musical College Chicago, IL Inactive School closed in 1954 following purchase by another institution. Kappa Chapter members did not wish to move to the distant campus of the acquiring school. The old downtown location provided better playing opportunities for young musicians, so some Kappa Chapter members transferred to DePaul University and started the Mu Chapter. Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's
Lambda 19331939 Cincinnati School of Music Cincinnati, OH Inactive Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's
Mu 19541956 DePaul University Chicago, IL Inactive Chapter started by former members of Kappa Chapter who transferred to DePaul University following the closure of their old school. Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's

Composition contest and commissioned works

Kappa Gamma Psi's Iota chapter (Ithaca College) formerly sponsored a competition for new compositions. [1] The widely performed band composition The Leaves Are Falling, by the American composer Warren Benson, was commissioned by Kappa Gamma Psi in 1963. [2] Deux Preludes, a work for flute, clarinet, and bassoon by the Czech-born composer Karel Husa, was commissioned by the Iota chapter in 1966. [3] Elie Siegmeister's Sextet for Brass and Percussion was commissioned in 1966. [4] In 1974, the Iota chapter commissioned Alfred Reed's Double Wind Quintet. [5]

Notable members

Notable honorary members

References

  1. ^ "Account Offline". cooppress.hostrack.net. Archived from the original on 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  2. ^ https://www.music.umn.edu/events/ProgramPDF/10-9%20WindEnsemble.pdf[ permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Quintet of the Americas CD's". quintet.org. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  4. ^ Portail d'informations Ce site est en vente! Archived 2007-09-07 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Jordan, D.M. (1999). Alfred Reed: A Bio-bibliography. Greenwood Press. p. 103. ISBN  9780313303333. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  6. ^ New England Conservatory Neume Yearbook, 1952, p. 36.
  7. ^ "Bert Remsen - Biography - IMDb". imdb.com. Retrieved 2015-07-12.

External links