Delta Omicron
Encyclopedia
Delta Omicron is a co-ed international professional music honors fraternity whose mission is to promote and support excellence in music and musicianship.
by three freshman undergraduate students: Hazel Wilson, Lorena Creamer, and Mabel Dunn. The Articles of Incorporation were signed by the charter members on December 8, 1909 and filed in the office of the Secretary of State of Ohio. The charter was granted on December 13, 1909. Originally called "Delta Omicron Sorority," the organization changed its name to "Delta Omicron Fraternity" in 1947 since "fraternity" was the preferred name in Panhellenic circles. The fraternity has collegiate chapters established throughout the United States. Several chapters were established abroad, but are currently inactive. Delta Omicron is the only organization of its kind, since it was founded by students for students and is also the only professional music fraternity founded by underclassmen.
Originally an all-female organization, Delta Omicron first initiated men in 1979 after changing the bylaws to admit men in 1977.
. It also supplements Delta Omicron's endowment fund, which was established in 1927.
Collegiate chapters are chartered in accredited institutions of higher learning and derive their names from the Greek alphabet in the regular sequence according to the date of installation. A member affiliated with a collegiate chapter (either undergraduate or graduate) must be a music major, music minor, or the equivalent of a music minor (as determined by individual chapters).
Alumni chapters derive their names by using the name of the nearest collegiate chapter prefixed by the letter Zeta. They are made up of area alumni members. Alumni chapters adopted Greek letter names beginning in 1944.
Delta Omicron was the first music fraternity to establish chapters abroad. International chapters of Delta Omicron are those that are established outside of the boundaries of the United States, the first of which was established in South Korea on June 7, 1958. Members of an international chapter may be made up of collegiate or alumni members. International collegiate chapters derive their names from the Greek alphabet, prefixed by the letter Kappa.
Eight chapters - seven collegiate and one alumni - were established in South Korea. All are inactive.
The Whistle of Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity—Alumni Newsletter is the official publication of the fraternity for alumni-at-large. The international newsletter began publication with volume 1 in 1952 and is geared to the interests of alumni-at-large members. It was originally distributed to all alumni members of the fraternity annually. Since January 2004, however, it has been published online on the Delta Omicron website.
The Epoillac contains the proceedings of the fraternity's Triennial Conference, including a summary and the minutes of the Conference as well as business reports of officers and committees. It is only sent to chapter and official personnel.
, College Fraternity Editors Association (CFEA), Music Educators National Conference
(MENC), Music Teachers National Association
, National American Inter-fraternal Foundation (NIF), National Association of Schools of Music
(NASM), National Federation of Music Clubs
(NFMC), National Interfraternity Music Council
, National Music Council
, Professional Fraternity Association
(of which it was a charter member), and the Support Music, Music Education Coalition.
History
Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity was founded on September 6, 1909 at the Cincinnati Conservatory of MusicCincinnati Conservatory of Music
The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music was a conservatory, part of a girls' finishing school, founded in 1867 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It merged with the College of Music of Cincinnati in 1955, forming the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, which is now part of the University of Cincinnati.The...
by three freshman undergraduate students: Hazel Wilson, Lorena Creamer, and Mabel Dunn. The Articles of Incorporation were signed by the charter members on December 8, 1909 and filed in the office of the Secretary of State of Ohio. The charter was granted on December 13, 1909. Originally called "Delta Omicron Sorority," the organization changed its name to "Delta Omicron Fraternity" in 1947 since "fraternity" was the preferred name in Panhellenic circles. The fraternity has collegiate chapters established throughout the United States. Several chapters were established abroad, but are currently inactive. Delta Omicron is the only organization of its kind, since it was founded by students for students and is also the only professional music fraternity founded by underclassmen.
Originally an all-female organization, Delta Omicron first initiated men in 1979 after changing the bylaws to admit men in 1977.
Delta Omicron Foundation, Inc.
The Delta Omicron Foundation, Inc. was founded on June 17, 1958 and is chartered in Ohio as a nonprofit organization. The Foundation administers the philanthropies of Delta Omicron as a separate corporation. It supports and promotes music and musicians through educational grants and scholarships for music study, the commission of composers, awards for musical accomplishments, subsidies for publications and programs promoting music, and national and international music endeavors. Additionally, it endows chairs at the Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing ArtsJohn F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is a performing arts center located on the Potomac River, adjacent to the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C...
. It also supplements Delta Omicron's endowment fund, which was established in 1927.
Chapter and Membership Information
Membership is determined on the basis of talent, scholarship and character and is open to music students enrolled in schools where Delta Omicron chapters are located, to music faculty members in those schools, and to professional musicians. Over 28,000 members have been initiated.Collegiate chapters are chartered in accredited institutions of higher learning and derive their names from the Greek alphabet in the regular sequence according to the date of installation. A member affiliated with a collegiate chapter (either undergraduate or graduate) must be a music major, music minor, or the equivalent of a music minor (as determined by individual chapters).
Alumni chapters derive their names by using the name of the nearest collegiate chapter prefixed by the letter Zeta. They are made up of area alumni members. Alumni chapters adopted Greek letter names beginning in 1944.
Delta Omicron was the first music fraternity to establish chapters abroad. International chapters of Delta Omicron are those that are established outside of the boundaries of the United States, the first of which was established in South Korea on June 7, 1958. Members of an international chapter may be made up of collegiate or alumni members. International collegiate chapters derive their names from the Greek alphabet, prefixed by the letter Kappa.
Chapters
Delta Omicron has a total of one hundred eighty chapters. Of the one hundred twenty-nine collegiate chapters that have been established in the United States, forty-two are active. Of the forty-three alumni chapters and clubs that have been established in the United States, fourteen are active.Eight chapters - seven collegiate and one alumni - were established in South Korea. All are inactive.
Publications
The Wheel: Educational Journal of Delta Omicron is the official publication of the fraternity. The journal began publication with volume 1 in 1915. The editor seeks articles on information related to the fraternity, its members and patrons, collegiate and alumni chapters, special events, awards, and music-related articles of interests to musicians. It is distributed to all current members of the fraternity.The Whistle of Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity—Alumni Newsletter is the official publication of the fraternity for alumni-at-large. The international newsletter began publication with volume 1 in 1952 and is geared to the interests of alumni-at-large members. It was originally distributed to all alumni members of the fraternity annually. Since January 2004, however, it has been published online on the Delta Omicron website.
The Epoillac contains the proceedings of the fraternity's Triennial Conference, including a summary and the minutes of the Conference as well as business reports of officers and committees. It is only sent to chapter and official personnel.
National Patrons & Patronesses
The title of "Patron" or "Patroness" may be conferred upon a musician who has attained a national reputation in his or her field. The title may also be conferred upon a nationally recognized patron of music.National Affiliations
Delta Omicron is affiliated with the following organizations: American Classical Music Hall of Fame, American String Teachers AssociationAmerican String Teachers Association
The American String Teacher's Association is a professional organization based in the United States for music teachers. It is the largest such national organization in the US for string teachers. It promotes learning to play string instruments in the next generation of American students, and...
, College Fraternity Editors Association (CFEA), Music Educators National Conference
MENC: The National Association for Music Education
MENC: The National Association for Music Education is an organization of American music educators dedicated to advancing and preserving music education and as part of the core curriculum of schools in the United States...
(MENC), Music Teachers National Association
Music Teachers National Association
-Membership:Its membership consists of approximately 22,000 independent and collegiate music teachers. MTNA headquarters are in downtown Cincinnati on the 31st floor of the Carew Tower.- MTNA structure :...
, National American Inter-fraternal Foundation (NIF), National Association of Schools of Music
National Association of Schools of Music
The National Association of Schools of Music is an association of post-secondary music schools in the United States and the principal U.S. accreditor for higher education in music...
(NASM), National Federation of Music Clubs
National Federation of Music Clubs
The National Federation of Music Clubs was founded in 1898, became an NGO member of the United Nations in 1949, and was chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1982. NFMC is a non-profit philanthropic music organization whose goal is to promote American music, performers, and composers through quality...
(NFMC), National Interfraternity Music Council
National Interfraternity Music Council
The National Interfraternity Music Council is composed of the national or international presidents of seven music fraternities and meets annually to discuss matters of mutual interest.-Member Organizations:...
, National Music Council
National Music Council
The National Music Council of the United States is a United States national organization listed under Title 36 of the United States Code, founded in 1940 and chartered by the 84th Congress in 1956. The Council is composed of organizations of national scope interested in the development of music...
, Professional Fraternity Association
Professional Fraternity Association
The Professional Fraternity Association is an association of national, collegiate, professional fraternities and sororities that was formed 1978. Since PFA groups are discipline-specific, members join while pursuing graduate degrees as well as undergraduate degrees...
(of which it was a charter member), and the Support Music, Music Education Coalition.