Our Founders

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Mu Phi Epsilon was founded at the Metropolitan College of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 13, 1903 by Professor Winthrop S. Sterling, Dean of the College, and Elizabeth Mathias (later married to John W. Fuqua), a member of the faculty.

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The Founding

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Professor Winthrop S. Sterling had in mind a sorority for women comparable in aim to Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity for men, of which he was a member. He founded Mu Phi Epsilon to advance the cause of music in America, and at the same time, develop fine young women bound together in friendship through their common interest in the art of music.

 

The first Mu Phi Epsilon chapter established was Alpha Chapter, organized with eight charter members including Miss Mathias. The Constitution and Bylaws were adopted, the design of the badge and shield selected, the colors and flower chosen, and the aims and ideals were established during those first meetings.

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Expansion

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During the very first month, Mu Phi Epsilon began to expand with the installation of Beta Chapter, at the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 13, 1903. Within the first year, Gamma Chapter at the University of Michigan School of Music in Ann Arbor, Michigan was installed on May 20, 1904.

 

With the installation of Alpha Tau Chapter on November 13, 1962, at the Philippine Women’s University in Manila, Philippine Islands, Mu Phi Epsilon became international.

 

Today Mu Phi Epsilon has 128 collegiate chapters, 74 alumni chapters and more than 75,000 members.

 

The Sorority changed status from the originally chartered National Music sorority to function as an Honor Society in 1935. In 1944, it changed again to function as a Professional Music Sorority, after definitions of general, honor and professional sororities were formulated and accepted by the National Conference on College Fraternities and Societies.

 

Mu Phi Epsilon became a co-educational Professional Music Fraternity in 1977 in compliance with federal regulations of Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972.

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The Alpha Zeta Chapter

 

The Alpha Zeta Chapter was originally chartered in the 1950s at Radford College, Radford, Virginia, and remained active until the early 1980s. The chapter was re-instated in 1995 by three ambitious Radford University music students and, as of this past year, has grown to over twenty-five members! The Alpha Zeta chapter takes an active role in enhancing the musical life of Radford University and the surrounding community.