Founders Day Message

there was not much literature on it. What was available focused on Europe and Australia, and very little existed that focused on the United States. My advisor suggested that I used my personal experiences in the classroom to bring the literature review to life. We found a Plan D!

I spent the following month reading all the literature that I could get my hands on the subject. Toward the end of April, I had what resembled a master’s thesis. Did I mentioned that at the same time, I was also working, trying to navigate remote learning with my high school students?

By the first week of May I had completed my paper. It was a marathon writing session that often took me well into the late night. But I was done! I just had to wait to defend my thesis during the second week of May. After my defense I was finally able to sleep! Graduation was a subdued event as USC had a virtual conferring of degrees. Later that day, my wife and mom conspired to throw me a surprise drive-by graduation parade. I walked outside and said, “Look, someone is having a drive-by care parade today.” My wife looked at me and said, “Yeah, you are! This is for you!”

Julio Sequeira (Gamma Sigma, Palos Verdes/South Bay Alumni) has taught music at all levels from elementary to high school. He is currently the music director at Belmont High School in Los Angeles, where he is rebuilding the band program and developing a guitar program. He was also responsible for securing a JDilla Music Tech grant from Save the Music for the school. Julio holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education and single-subject credential from California State University, Dominguez Hills. Most recently, he completed his master’s degree in music teaching and learning from the University of Southern California where he was also a member of the Thornton Guitar Orchestra. He is currently the historian for the Palos Verdes/South Bay Alumni chapter and has served as the chapter’s president. He is also a member of the Guitar Foundation of America and the National Association for Music Education. Julio’s wife, Wendy, is also a member of the Gamma Sigma and Palos Verdes/South Bay Alumni chapters.

NOVEMBER 13, 2020

Greetings!

We often comment, “what would our Founders’ think if they were with us today?” I imagine it would be with an overwhelming sense of pride in our Fraternity but with a healthy dose of concern given the challenges we as an organization face. I believe those concerns would be alleviated when they see a strong group of members today, each one of you leading Mu Phi Epsilon with passion and compassion.

I send warm greetings to everyone on the 117th anniversary of Mu Phi Epsilon’s founding. Our membership means many things to many people, but Founders’ Day holds a special significance for each of us. It is a time to honor our history, celebrate our present and contemplate the future of our Fraternity.

Through prosperity and hard times, global conflicts, and vast social change, so much is different in our world, yet so much has remained the same in Mu Phi Epsilon. Mu Phi’s mission is to inspire members to reach their full potential, so let us remember this November that our founders were the first to encourage and instill confidence in our earliest members. As our fraternity grows, may it continue to grow stronger in our commitment to one another and on the simple yet powerful premise of Music, Friendship, and Harmony, and it is these bonds that give us the strength and confidence to make our future bright.

May our lives so reflect the true spirit of Mu Phi Epsilon that everyone we meet may be touched by the spirit of boundless music that we so humbly share. Let your light shine so that wherever it casts its beam, your gift of music may lighten a heart, lift a burden, soothe a soul. May our remarkable history inspire us to inspire others.

Happy Founders’ Day!