Tau Beta Sigma
Gamma Mu Chapter at Ohio Northern University
About Us
2005 Counselor's Cup Winners
Tau Beta Sigma is the National Honorary Band Coed Sorority, founded by Wava Banes Henry, that has provided service to collegiate bands, encouraged the advancement of women in the band profession, and promoted and enriched an appreciation of music through recognition, leadership development, and education of its members since 1946. The Gamma Mu Chapter has been operating under the same intents since 1964.
The first practical idea for establishing a “band sorority” for college and university bandswomen came about during the spring semester of 1939. Wava Banes, along with two of her classmates (Emily SoRelle and Ruth La Nell Williams), took the idea to director D.O. Wiley of the Texas Technological College Band. The idea, patterned after Kappa Kappa Psi, began to come together the following semester and resulted in the campus organization Tau Beta Sigma. Much like the Fraternity, Tau Beta Sigma’s purpose at Tech was to serve as an honorary service and leadership recognition society, but was designed especially to provide the important additional social, educational, and other positive experiences needed by women in the band. The fledgling organization petitioned for recognition as an official campus organization from Dean of Women Mary Doak in spring 1940 (www.tbsigma.org)
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Vision Statement
Tau Beta Sigma is a highly respected pre-eminent music organization comprised of over 160 collegiate chapters and more than 3,800 collegiate members with a balanced representation of women and men. Strong leadership thrives throughout our organization and we have a solid financial foundation. We cultivate and sponsor a variety of music education programs for our diverse membership and work closely with collegiate band directors. Our alumni association is an integral part of Tau Beta Sigma, promoting diversity efforts, social networking and assisting members in enhancing their professional leadership and employment possibilities after graduation from college. We are actively engaged in the community through music.