Chapter History

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, established in 1898, made its way to the University of Illinois on June 6, 1925. On that day, the Alpha Xi chapter was founded, initiating twenty men, including students and notable faculty and musicians such as Albert Austin Harding and Ray Dvorak. Their names were:

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Alpha Xi has initiated eleven men as Honorary Members, headlined by John Philip Sousa on November 1, 1925.

 

From Fall 1940 to Summer of 1943, the Alpha Xi chapter occupied the house known as “Sinfonia House”, “Phi Mu Alpha House”, and starting in 1942 “Dante House”. It was located at the corner of Matthews Ave. and California Ave, which has since been turned into a footpath. In 1947, due to construction of the Roger Adams Laboratory, the house was moved from 602 S Matthews to 1205 ½ Nevada, next to the Delta Gamma sorority house.

 

After a few years of inactivity in the 1970s, Alpha Xi began a resurgence with the help of brother Ed Klint, who helped Alpha Xi host the 1982 National Convention at the University of Illinois. Brother Klint went on to serve as Executive Director at Lyrecrest, Sinfonia National Headquarters. His dedication to brotherhood is immortalized in the chapter’s Ed Klint Award for Excellence.

 

Alpha Xi carries with it the Illinois spirit of tradition and loyalty. All seven Directors of Bands at Illinois have been Sinfonians: A. A. Harding, Mark Hindsley, Harry Begian, James Keene, Robert Rumbelow, Stephen Peterson, and Kevin Geraldi. Through these men and many others,

brothers of Alpha Xi have been on the forefront of innovation in the wind band sphere. Brothers of Alpha Xi were founding members of the American Bandmasters Association (ABA).

 

As of 2025, Alpha Xi has the most active brothers of any chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia in the nation. Our faculty advisors are Barry Houser, Director of the Marching Illini and Associate Director of Bands; and Scott Schwartz, Director of the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music and Archivist for Music and Fine Arts.