Augustana Observer

Augustana Observer

Augustana Observer

SAI hosts annual Celebration of Women in the Arts recital

Sigma+Alpha+Iota+hosted+Celebrating+Women+in+the+Arts+on+April+8th+in+Wallenberg+Hall.+In+which%2C+women+would+perform+all+different+styles+of+art+ranging+from+poetry+to+classical+performances.+SAI+choir+also+performed+So+Near+So+Dear+is+SAI.+SAI+choir+was+being+directed+by+Abby+Roselieb+this+year.
Sigma Alpha Iota hosted Celebrating Women in the Arts on April 8th in Wallenberg Hall. In which, women would perform all different styles of art ranging from poetry to classical performances. SAI choir also performed “So Near So Dear is SAI”. SAI choir was being directed by Abby Roselieb this year.

On Apr. 8, Augustana’s women’s music fraternity, Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI), held their Celebrating Women in the Arts recital in Wallenberg Hall to honor the work of women artists that often goes unnoticed.
Augustana’s chapter of SAI, Delta Tau, hosts the event annually along with several other chapters in the fraternity. However, according to junior and SAI program chair, Abigail Roselieb, the Celebrating Women in the Arts recital is used by different chapters in different ways. For Augustana’s chapter, the main focus of the event is to reach out to the rest of the campus community.
“Some [chapters] use [the Celebrating Women in the Arts recital] for fundraising for SAI philanthropies. We’ve always used it more as like a way to really reach out to the campus community and see what kind of female artistry we have and like give it a platform,” Roselieb said.
Roselieb explained that the event is a little different every year with some years including heavy faculty involvement in the event. This year, however, Celebrating Women in the Arts had a lot of great student involvement from SAI members and other community members who wanted to participate, the only requirement being that any musical compositions, poems, or other artwork that was to be performed was created by women.
From pop songs like “Praying” by Kesha performed by Zoë Haenisch to classical repertoire such as Fifteen Characteristic Studies, XII. Amabile, by Lillian Fuchs performed by Kathryn Krajewski the range of involvement was vast. Aside from musical performances, other art forms were welcome as well such as a spoken word piece performed by Kate Black.
In Roselieb’s opinion, events like Celebrating Women in the Arts are important on campus not only because of recent events but to bring women in the Augustana community together.
“[With] everything this year that’s been going on on the campus I’ve found organizing this event to be really comforting because it’s just like all about the power of women,” Roselieb began. “…it’s just kind of free of that hostility and it’s all about what is possible when a female artist sits down and spends a couple minutes creating.”
Senior and president of SAI, Victoria Kleeman shared similar sentiments about taking the time to highlight the artistic achievements of women. She explained that often women are not recognized for their work in the arts, but rather it is male artists who are most notably remembered.
“I think it’s really important to realize that women are artists and composers too. I think that, at least in the choral world, and even in art, there aren’t many women artists or composers that are recognized…when you think of famous artists…they’re all men because women used to not be able to have access to things like art and music,” Kleeman stated.
Both Kleeman and Roselieb explained some of the hardships that women in the arts face on a daily basis in classes and ensembles. Whether it be less recognition in the classroom environment or extra difficulties in performing, they both explained that there are inequalities in the arts.
“Even in music classes, like having been in music classes I can tell you, our input is not as valued sometimes because maybe we articulate things in a different way,” Roselieb said.
Kleeman and Roselieb also agreed that not only is SAI a great event to bring together Augustana’s community to celebrate the achievements of women artists, but it is a great time for SAI to reach out as a fraternity.
“Since we are like a smaller chapter and not everyone knows about us, it’s important to get the word out about it so that they can see what we do as a chapter. My freshman year, I wasn’t even in SAI yet, I was in the pledging process, and I went…and I was like ‘this is so cool these are all women and we’re all doing things by women’ and it’s just really an empowering feeling because that doesn’t happen every day,” Kleeman explained.
SAI’s Celebrating Women in the Arts recital is a great way for the fraternity to join forces with the community to create a place to honor and praise the work of women artists who have contributed to the arts but have not always been accurately recognized for their works. The recital truly highlighted the importance of events that are geared toward supporting women.
“Women have it harder, and so we need a little bit of extra celebration and support… these, kind of, safe spaces for women to really create and show what we’re made of. I think that’s kind of one of the best things that you can do, ever,” Roselieb said.
Photo above: Sigma Alpha Iota hosted Celebrating Women in the Arts on April 8th in Wallenberg Hall. In which, women would perform all different styles of art ranging from poetry to classical performances. SAI choir also performed “So Near So Dear is SAI”. SAI choir was being directed by Abby Roselieb this year.

Leave a Comment
More to Discover

Comments (0)

All Augustana Observer Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Activate Search
SAI hosts annual Celebration of Women in the Arts recital