Newsletter: September 2026
Claudia’s Comments
I know teachers have already started classes. I remember how exciting it was to prepare my classroom, meet my new students and see my colleagues again. I hope you’ll start the year with a positive attitude knowing that you will accomplish much in spite of little support from your admin. Build good relationships with your colleagues and parents so you will have their support. I pray you will have an excellent year.
We are still needing some help with programs. Please contact Noe Garcia with your suggestions or check out my earlier email from Mary Williams to see where we need help. I look forward to seeing you all at Nancy Laine’s for our potluck lunch on Saturday, the 12th at 11:00 a.m.
Hang in there… cooler temperatures are coming!
With Friendship and Harmony,
Claudia Jameson, President
Dear Mu Phis,
The end of summer is upon us and I hope many of you had time to relax and refresh., and at least stay out of the heat. I hope to hear about convention and perhaps we could do that presentation style at one of our meetings. In early August, I drove my sister to Wooster, OH to see her grands for their birthdays. It’s a beautiful drive and the weather there was in the mid 80's. That sure beat 105° in Texas. We were able to see family and friends and enjoy the town of Wooster with its quaint shops, restaurants and beautiful countryside. My 12 yr. old grand-niece started voice lessons and I got to sit in. That brought back so many memories.
Next MeetingS - 2026-2027 Theme: Our Inspiration
October Meeting
Monday, October 12, 7:00 p.m.
Co-host: Claudia Jameson
Location: Custer Road United Methodist Church
Program:
Chris Brunt, organ
Nancy Laine, organ
November Meeting
Monday, November 9, 7:00 p.m.
Location: Home of Claudia Jameson
Co-Host: Nancy Laine
Program:
Claudia Jameson, soprano and Noe Garcia, guitar
Mary Ann Taylor, flute and Fran Pearson – viola-flute duets
Sonata In G, William Corbett
January Meeting
Monday, January 11, 7:00 p.m.
Location: Home of Susan Polchau
Co-hosts: Mary Alice Rich, Fran Pearson
Program:
Julie Schmitt, piano
French Suite, Bach
Mary Alice Rich, violin and Susan Poelchau, piano
Fran Pearson, voice
Folk songs, a la Jill Trinka
February Meeting - Joint Recital with SAI
Date TBD
Location: Presbyterian Village North
8600 Skyline Drive, Dallas
Hosts: SAI
Program:
TBD
March Meeting
Monday, March 8, 7 p.m.
Location: Home of Pat Suitt
Co-host: Mary Williams
Program:
Pat Suitt and Margaret Mulvey-Claiborne, duo-piano
Dvorak Slavonic Dances Op 46. Nos 6, 7, 8
Pat and Jackie Akin, flute
Duo for Flute and Piano, Aaron Copeland
April Meeting
Saturday, April 10, 11 a.m.
Location: Need a host/venue
Potluck - all members bring a dish
Program:
Awarding of MPE Dallas scholarship
Collegiates perform
Election of new officers
May Meeting
Monday, May 10, 7 p.m.
Location: Home of Mary Williams
Potluck - all members bring a dish
Program:
Installation of Officers
Last Meeting
September Meeting
Saturday, September 12, 11 a.m.
Potluck lunch - all members bring a dish
Program:
Students from Texas A&M Commerce
Amy Canchola and Noe Garcia
chapter news
Dues
It’s that time of year again – time to pay Mu Phi dues for the 2026-2027 year. I will soon need to turn in the roster for our chapter to National.. To be a member of Dallas Alumni for this year, you need to let me know of your intention to affiliate with us. I can accept payment later if necessary. Please let me know and/or pay dues by September 15.
I’ll need your full name, email address, mailing address, and phone number(s). National will have the initiation chapter and date. National will send me an invoice based on the list I send at that time.
Dues are $101.23. However, if you’re a recent graduate (within the past 3 years), national waives $70 of the dues the first year, so dues would only be $31.23.
International dues $75.00
Local dues $25.00
Founders Day pennies $1.23
(To celebrate 123 years since
Mu Phi founding in 1903)
Total $101.23
(Or $31.23 for recent graduates).
Note that members with a life subscription to The Triangle (Zelda, Tena, Nancy, Fran, & Sylvia} should pay $91.23 instead.
Options for payment include:
Bring to the first meeting on Saturday, 9/12, at Nancy Laine’s house.
Venmo to @MuPhiEpsilon-Dallas (be sure to include the hyphen in the address!)
Mail to Nancy Laine, 430 Oak Ridge Dr., Fairview, TX 75069
If you need other options, please let me know.
Thanks,
Nancy Laine
Summer Board Meeting
Our board had a productive meeting on Friday, June 6th as we worked on finalizing items on the calendar and other business.
Scholarship Money
From Nancy: Remember last April when we were disappointed that no collegiates had applied for our scholarship? Well, that turned out not to be so bad after all. When the Beta Mu chapter (Texas A&M Commerce) asked for our assistance in sending a representative to the Mu Phi convention this summer, we were able to do so using the funds budgeted for the scholarship. Now, about a dozen of the Beta Mu chapter members, headed by their chorister Andrew Hedges, are going to sing for us at our upcoming luncheon on Saturday, September 12! What a great way to develop a new bond with our collegiates! By the way, I told the collegiates that we (the alumni) would provide all the food for the luncheon.
New Webmaster
We welcome Lisa Beyer as
our new webmaster, and
are grateful to her for taking
on this position.
We also thank Basil Bouras for all the work he did in setting up the new site in SquareSpace and maintaining it for the past two years.
member news
Rebekah Boatright has moved to take a new job. Contact the Newletter Eidtor to get her updated address: txtravel@flash.net
She says: I will be District Director for South Central 1 and 4 as of right now. In other news, the teaching job down here has been great so far! The community is super supportive and my administration has been really great.
Phyllis Wilson reported that her brother who lived in Virginia passed away this in July. He was 98 and had been in assisted living for a few months, but died very peacefully. We are blessed for that.
Claudia Jameson reached out to Phyllis regarding her Pilot Point music program and lack of a reply to her grant application last year and she replied:
Claudia, thanks for checking on me.
It’s a rather long story concerning the current fine arts program in Pilot Point. We applied for non-profit status and are now operating under that umbrella. We have a board of directors of which I am a member. My primary responsibility is supporting the teachers in the program. Our classes have expanded to include music and art for 3-8 year olds and for 8+: sewing, watercolor, drumming and (maybe) handbells.
I did not teach this spring session because the class did not make, but it was a godsend since my husband had the severe fall in January. We are fortunate that we have received several small donations and one large donation/grant from a local organization that supports children’s education. That grant allows us to offer scholarships in the summer to children in our program that wish to take additional classes in dance and theater outside our organization. I have not applied again for any grant money from Mu Phi. I feel like my role has changed and do not know if I would qualify for a grant.
To update: my husband is so much better, but is still receiving therapy through home health benefits. He is walking well now with a cane and doing small jobs on the farm as able. I still have my adult community handbell choir, sing in the choir at our small United Methodist Church and play the electronic organ occasionally for worship.
I hope all is well with you and your family. I miss
everyone, but find it hard to attend a meeting since
my handbell choir rehearses on Mondays.
Mu Phi love,
Phyllis
Note from Mary re: lack of response on earlier proposal for grant:
I spoke to someone on that committee at Convention who assured me that they never received that application for a grant for the Pilot Point project. Snafu somewhere.
Jenny Smith reports that after teaching at NE campus of Tarrant County Community College full time for ten years, she has now completed her first full year as department chair of biology, a long-time ambition. She is happy to report it went sooooo well, she is doing a great job, and really enjoys being able to give back to a faculty group that has embraced her for who she is, and gave her a place to thrive and excel. Her time with students has been very fulfilling as well. Congratulations Jenny!
She was sorry to miss the Convention this year – first time in 20 years.
Mary Williams had a busy summer - she:
- hosted Isaac and Shirley Tehe Kortey from Ghana for a week with several glitches in sight-seeing, and of course HOT weather. Isaac presented a program on Ghana for a Friendship Force meeting while he was here.
- left the next day for Fort Wayne, Indiana for the Mu Phi Epsilon convention where she is a 70 year member - great time, great music, great weather - 78*.
- had a few days to clean the house and yard, then welcomed 25 of her family (all her children and grandchildren plus one niece) who gathered at Chimneyhill clubhouse, her daughter Kathy's new apartment and at her house over several days to celebrate
her 90th birthday. The party was over the top! They all got together and purchased and assembled new patio furniture for her little patio. With much food and drink, a list of memories of them all growing up, a running slide show, games, music, decorations...it was really a blast!
Mary has been sadly dealing with her renter Radwan Dalu and his health issues. He had cancer and also had spine surgery, so he balanced chemo with physical therapy and moved to several places as he couldn’t navigate her house anymore. He died on Thursday night, Sep 3 It is not only the loss of a long-time renter (over 8 years) and friend, but tackling the job of dealing with all his belongings that are at her house. She has help from Palestinian friends and some of his children with that project this weekend. The nine of us finished Sunday – day of funeral. Give-away on Monday and Tuesday, and haul-away the remaining on Wednesday left her with an empty room, patio and garage. Cleaning up his files and preparing for a new renter.
Amy Canchola is now a full time faculty member at Texas A&M Commerce. Congratulations Amy!
Ashley and Basil Bouras have divorced
and contact the Newletter Editor to get Ashley’s
updated address: txtravel@flash.net
Ashley says: I am still in the same job! 🥳 however I am going to be taking SC2 DD role in again [as Rebekah has moved away].
Susan and Harald Poelchau have rented an apartment in Golden, CO to spend summers closer to their two daughters. [photo of folk festival] They will be back in October.
Claudia Jameson visited her sister and nieces in Wooster, Ohio this summer, and enjoyed them and the cooler weather
Sandra McMillen's son John McMillen, died in his sleep while at Parkland hospital in June. His family was shocked and sad at his passing, something they did not expect. He had an Inoperative tumor on his liver. His service was held at Jaynes in Duncanville.
On July 3 we heard that Sandra McMillen had a major stroke the week before. She had been on dialysis for some time. She died on July 4th. Her passing is a great loss to her many friends and students.
This is the obituary published by Jaynes Funeral Home:
Sandra Kay McMillen Obituary
January 7, 1945 - July 4, 2026
Sandra Kay Chaney McMillen was born on January 7, 1945, in Plainview, TX, to William and Helen Chaney. She grew up in Plainview, Texas, graduating high school in 1963. Her love for music began at the early age of 4 when she performed a solo for her mother’s study club. Throughout her childhood and young adulthood, she sang in her church choir
and became an accomplished musician, playing the violin, piano, organ, baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone, and flute.
After high school, she attended West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M University), where she met the love of her life, Philip McMillen, marrying on August 27, 1965. She completed a bachelor’s degree in music education in 1967, later returning to school, receiving a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy with a second major in Mathematics from UT Arlington in 1980.
Sandra began her teaching career as a choir director in 1968. Over the course of 25 years, she inspired students from preschool through high school, sharing not only her love of music but also a lifelong appreciation for learning. During Phil’s service in the US Army, the couple lived in Alabama and then Kentucky before returning to Texas. After welcoming their sons, John Philip (1972) and James William (1974), Sandra was ready to put down roots. In 1978, they bought their family home, settling in Duncanville.
Outside of the classroom, she taught private voice lessons from her home studio at night and served as a beloved Den Leader for the local Cub Scouts for James. Her love for educating children was evident even as a grandmother. She enjoyed reading stories to them and sharing her love of musicals, often gifting tickets to the Dallas Broadway musicals and other shows they were interested in.
Granny always wanted to hear about their musical accomplishments in the school band, garage band, and choir shows, and would show up for a front row seat as often as she was able.
Her passion for helping others was evident through her local sororities and community clubs. She was a member of Mu Phi Epsilon, Beta Sigma Phi Cultural and Social Sorority (joining in 1974), Delta Kappa Gamma Society for Women Educators (since 1964), Oak Cliff Women’s Club, Duncanville Women’s Club, Texas Music Education Association, and Lecture Luncheon Club. She held board positions in all these groups multiple times over. Notably, in Beta Sigma Phi, she earned the Order of the Rose, the Silver Circle, and Golden Circle for years of membership. She was also Woman of the Year and Chapter Sweetheart. At Oak Cliff Presbyterian Church, Sandra faithfully served as a Deaconess for many years.
In retirement, she joined several Mahjong groups, collecting and gifting several beautiful tile sets. She taught her grandchildren and daughter-in-law how to play, creating a family tradition that they continue to enjoy together. Sandra is survived by her husband of nearly 61 years, Philip McMillen; her son, James McMillen (Hillary); her grandchildren, Cody Hunter, Brittany Adia (fiancé, John Smith), James Douglas, and Haley Elaine; her brothers, Dan Chaney (Vicki), and Frank Chaney (Jill); along with several nieces and nephews; and many dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her beloved son, John McMillen, and her parents, William and Helen Chaney. Sandra's legacy lives on through the music she shared, the students she inspired, the family she cherished, and the countless lives she touched with her generosity, encouragement, and unwavering love.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of Sandra's organizations and their scholarship funds.
Service: Saturday, July 18, 2026 - 11:00AM
Jaynes Memorial Chapel, Duncanville
concert series
Andrew Anderson has filled 14 of the 15 concert slots for this year’s concert series. Yay Andrew!
As for our involvement: We are still listed as co-sponsors of the series along with the Library.
We are contributing:
- publicity (emailing list, posters at the Dallas libraries, Facebook notices) and
- a presence at the desk at concerts - greeting the performers and making sure they know that Andrew will introduce them. Taking a photo and posting it on Facebook; thanking the performers by email.
The Desk Person is needed to post the Silence Your Cellphone poster, keep people from entering during performers’ warmup, ensure patrons get a program (now printed by the library}, offer signing up for an email for our mailing list (that Mary enters into a database for sending weekly programs/info), give directions to restrooms, check restrooms to see that light is on and paper and dead roaches on the floor are disposed of, manage strollers, walkers and homeless people's belongings, manage banging doors and noise, photograph the performers for our newsletters/website, and send an email to performers with the photo (and to Mary) with thanks for their volunteering for our series after the concert.
This Desk Person position is a Mu Phi CHAPTER volunteer opportunity. Please consider volunteering to do this at least one Sunday afternoon this coming year (first Sunday In October through November 8, and end of February through week before Easter) - arriving at the library by 1:30, staying through the concert that you can hear but not see, greeting and thanking the performers and taking a photo and sending it to Mary Williams for our use.
Whether you are at the desk or not, please support these talented musicians who are volunteering their time and talent to help us achieve our goal of bringing music to Dallas, especially under-served populations. Bring friends.
Our website has our new season posted; as it progresses into fall, more performer biographies and photos will be added as we receive them and their programs listed as we receive them.
Go to www.muphiepsilondallas.org Click on Concert Series – Select Schedule, Performers, Programs, or History.
Schedule 2026-2027 – Sundays 2 pm
J. Erik Jonsson Central Library Auditorium, 1515 Young St., Dallas TX 75201
All concerts are free. Parking in the garage under the Library is also free – enter from Wood St, down a ramp behind the Library.
CONVENTION 2026
2026 Convention Report
by Mary Williams:
The triennial Mu Phi Epsilon convention was held in Fort Wayne, Indiana on July 23-26 and was attended by Dallas members Ashley Bouras (outgoing national Collegiate Advisor officer), Lisa Beyer (current Media officer), Rebekah Boatright (former SW2 District Director), and Mary Williams (along for her 70-year member celebration).
We were greeted stepping out of the small Fort Wayne airport (serves three cities) to 78* weather. Thank you God!
It was mostly all good from there on. Fort Wayne is a charming small mid-Western town. The Bradley Hotel was superb.
The venue, The Pearl Arts Center, just around the corner from the hotel, was wonderful - with a large auditorium where we held sessions, meals and concerts, meeting rooms and various studios for local musicians. It was built and subsidized by the large employer in the area - Sweetwater Instruments, who manufacture most every musical instrument.
Sweetwater also provided us with a tour of their facility including lunch and workshops led by employees who assist school districts, musicians and tech people.
Several recitals throughout the two days were always enjoyable. The convention choir was outstanding - always amazing that they can put together a super program with just three rehearsals. Rayvon T. J. Moore from Friends University, led the group. And having a room full of musicians singing Mu Phi songs and The Triangle is a special treat
The Competition featured four excellent musicians: flutist Mary Matthews, who won first prize, guitarist Daniel Salazar, pianist Longcheng Ma, pianist, and organist Peiyao Yu.
Outgoing officers were appreciated and stepped down to welcome our new officers:
President: Ann Geiler (formerly Alumni Advisor)
First VP Extension Officer: Kirsten Forbes
Second VP Collegiate Advisor: Marshall Lavan-Pugh
Third VP Alumni Advisor: Ashley McSpadden
Fourth VP Music Advisor: Lorna Katz
Fifth VP Eligibility Advisor: Sean Paree-Huff
MPE business conducted was mostly fast and easy, cleaning
up small issues with by-laws so that there would not be
contradictions in them. NOTE: We need to update our by-laws to conform with national ones.
An outside local concert at nearby Plymouth Congregational Church featured a program as part of the Plymouth Music Series. This concert featured the local orchestra and Heartland Sings choir performing dance works by Darius Milhaud and Cole Porter. (Who knew?) Director Robert Nance, is a Mu Phi himself and suggested the concert as part of our convention.
The model installation service and remembrance service are always moving experiences, giving our collegiates a sense of the larger organization. Our Dallas members who died this past year were honored: Pat Hill, Katy Freiberger and Sandra McMillen.
Outgoing president Kurt-Alexander Zeller was his admirable self in keeping meetings on time and on track and worthwhile. Many thanks to him and the outgoing Board. And I must mention our own Lisa Beyer, now Social Media Manager, who designed the lovely Convention booklet.
With this convention slimmed down from three days to two, the agenda was packed with little downtime, unless you skipped something or didn't sing in the choir. Exhausting, but fun, meeting Mu Phis from everywhere, hearing great music, and having a break from Texas weather!
international
Founders Day Message
Every Founders Day, we repeat that Dr. Winthrop S. Sterling and Elizabeth Mathias Fuqua founded Mu Phi Epsilon on 13 November 1903 at the Metropolitan College of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio—but what do we mean by that? What does it really mean to be a “founder”? My mother was an English teacher, and when in doubt, I still do what she always taught us: I consult the dictionary. Defining one’s terms is almost always a good first step in seeking clarity. Here’s what my trusty Webster’s New Collegiate says about the verb “to found”:
To take the first steps in building
To set or ground on something solid: BASE
To establish (as an institution) often with provision for future maintenance.
What leaps out at me from these definitions is the unfinished nature of the business of founding. To found something is to take (only) the first steps in building whatever that something is eventually to become. It is to create a solid base for whatever will be erected on that base. It is to establish something, trusting that it will be maintained in the future.
Dr. Winthrop S. Sterling and Elizabeth Mathias Fuqua did their job in founding Mu Phi Epsilon 122 years ago, but that job was to take the first steps to establish Mu Phi Epsilon on a solid base—a base which it is now our job to maintain and to continue to build up and augment into the future. We today must be the founders who take steps to create something secure for future generations to build upon. We must, like our fraternity’s original founders, imagine new ideas and ways of acting, innovate to establish them, and, in so doing, inspire those who come after us in
the future to continue building a world full of music, friendship, and harmony through Mu Phi Epsilon. I hope many of you will join the discussion in your chapters, with other chapters, with your board, and especially at Convention 2026 this summer in Fort Wayne to do just that.
Winthrop and Elizabeth took those first steps—now it’s your turn to build the next story! How will we keep it solid into the future?
Kurt-Alexander Zeller
Out-going International President
international - Foundation
The 2026-2027 Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation scholarships, grants, and awards cycle is here! This year, we are offering five grants with an application deadline of November 1, 2026. We are especially excited to include the two newest awards for professional music educators - the Classroom Experience Grant and the Madeline Blackadore Dahlburg Memorial Music Education Grant. Eligible members are invited to apply for an application fee of $20 for the 2026-2027 cycle. Please click on the links below to learn more!
Deadline: November 1, 2026 by 11:59PM EST
Classroom Experience Grant ($2000)
To assist a professional K-12 music educator for the purpose of enhancing their classroom. Funds must be used to enrich classroom learning through experiential opportunities, such as guest artists and coaches, workshops, festival attendance, collaborative musicians, and/or other special activities. Open to graduate and alumni level members.
Madeline Blackadore Dahlburg Memorial Music Education Grant ($2000)
For a professional music educator working in a K-12 music program with demonstrated financial need (e.g., Title I school). Funds can be used to enhance classroom activities (e.g., special programs or field trips), cover classroom expenses (e.g., instruments or supplies), or support teacher development (e.g., training or certification). Open to graduate and alumni level members.
Professional Development Grant ($2000)
To cover expenses related to a professional development opportunity (e.g., conference, workshop, etc.). May not be used for Mu Phi Epsilon International Convention or District Conference. Two grants available. Open to members at all levels.
Helen Haupt Alumni Chapter Project Grants ($2,000)
To support one or more special projects undertaken by alumni chapters. Previous winners of this grant may re-apply annually for consideration of a significantly different project. Open to alumni chapter members only.
Wiese-Abegg Collegiate Chapter Project Grants ($2,000)
To support one or more special projects undertaken by collegiate chapters. Previous winners of this grant may re-apply annually for consideration of a significantly different project. Open to collegiate (undergraduate) chapter members only.
Be sure to check out our updated Application Assistance page, which includes a new resource on how to prepare application statements and proposals, as well as video tutorials, a budget template, and rubrics used in application ranking.
Applications to all other grants, scholarships, and awards will be due March 1, 2027 – stay tuned!
Dr. Wanda Yang Temko
Scholarship and Grant Coordinator
Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation Board