PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
KU RT-A L EXAN DER ZEL L ER, IN T ERN ATI O N A L P R E S I D E N T, M U C H I , AT L A N TA A LU M N I P R ESI D EN T@ M U P H I E P S I LO N .O R G
XiaoYun Li
SOMETHING NEW
omposer Richard Wagner proclaimed, “Good people, do something new! new! and once again new!” Mu Phi Epsilon certainly has taken his directive to heart. We’ve just had our very first virtual International Convention, a wonderful time of learning, growing and sharing in music, friendship and harmony. The online format allowed members who were previously unable to travel to a convention to participate — and it’s not over yet! Registrants can revisit convention content and catch sessions they missed, review a workshop or re-experience a favorite moment through May 2022 at muphiepsilon.org. Acknowledging everyone whose work made our first virtual convention successful would exceed my word count for this message, but above all, we must extend our deepest gratitude to Jess LaNore, international executive secretary/treasurer, who managed all the technology with grace and aplomb, to the Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation and its board and to all the members of the outgoing International Executive Board — particularly Rosemary Ames (Omega, Boston Alumni), who provided our Fraternity with truly sterling leadership for an unprecedented 10 years. And in an era in which the word “unprecedented” has been almost worn out from overuse, Mu Phi Epsilon did
another something new and elected the first male International President in its 118-year history. No, that photo was not a printing error. Mu Phi Epsilon’s president has a beard. I am thrilled and humbled and, to tell the truth, a little intimidated that you all have entrusted me with the honor of leading our beloved Fraternity. As they say in showbiz, Rosemary is a very tough act to follow. Fortunately, you have provided me a “Dream Team” board to collaborate with, and Liana, Ashley, Ann, Becky and Terrel already are hard at work with me to begin building our bridge to the future of Mu Phi. A bridge opens a way from where you are to where you want to be — yet it always provides a connection back to where you have been. In music, the bridge is that most creative and varied part of a song that leads us on from what has become familiar (and sometimes repetitious) to a new destination that feels like coming home. Consequently, a bridge is an apt metaphor for this moment of celebrating both where our Fraternity has come from and of looking forward to where we hope to be going in the next few years. Let’s all join in “Building Bridges” — between members, between chapters, between genres and practices and generations and identities and cultures. “Good people, do something new!”
FALL 2021
I the triangle
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