Pi Nu Epsilon () is an

honor society In the United States, an honor society is a rank organization that recognizes excellence among peers. Numerous societies recognize various fields and circumstances. The Order of the Arrow, for example, is the National Honor Society of the Boy S ...

for university students in musical

performing arts The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which are the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects. Perfo ...

organizations.

Purpose

The purpose of Pi Nu Epsilon is threefold: * To honor those outstanding men and women who have devoted their time and efforts to the musical organizations at the institutions of the respective chapters. * To stimulate interest in and to further the aims of the musical organizations at the institutions of the respective chapters. * To foster and develop a broader interest in music and musical affairs.

History

Pi Nu Epsilon was founded at Armour Institute of Technology in January 1927 for the purpose of "giving recognition to those men and women who had unselfishly devoted their time and energies to the furtherance of good music". Only the second non-engineering

at Armor Tech, Pi Nu Epsilon was founded by four members of the class of 1927, four members of the class of 1928, and Professor Emeritus Charles Wilbur Leigh. The undergraduate Founders were: From the beginning, the Society, with its focus on non-Music majors (even for a music-themed society) operated as a recognition societyAs a category, Recognition societies are grouped with Honor societies. Honor societies often maintain specific GPA or class rank requirements where recognition societies focused on achievement in campus or community service. and service organization: it had a strong service component, "in the furtherance of good music" (History). Pi Nu Epsilon aided the musical organizations at the ''Alpha chapter'' by sponsoring and promoting the musical activities on campus. It thrived for many years under the guidance of Dr. O. Gordon Erickson, who served as Music Director at Armour Institute of Technology from 1932 until his death in August 1953. In 1940, Armour Institute of Technology and Lewis Institute merged to form the

Illinois Institute of Technology Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Tracing its history to 1890, the present name was adopted upon the merger of the Armour Institute and Lewis Institute in 1940. The university has prog ...

. Pi Nu Epsilon was formally incorporated as a

nonprofit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

organization in the state of

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rock ...

on May 16, 1947, by DeWitt H. Pickens, John G. Seeger Jr., Hans H. Nord, and James W. Leichti. Later that month, on May 28, 1947, the ''Beta chapter'' was founded at

Drexel Institute of Technology Drexel University is a private research university with its main campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Drexel's undergraduate school was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a financier and philanthropist. Founded as Drexel Institute of Art, Sc ...

. ''Gamma chapter'' (later renamed Epsilon) was founded on April 30, 1955 at

Ursinus College Ursinus College is a private liberal arts college in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1869 and occupies a 170-acre campus. History 19th century In 1867, members of the German Reformed Church began plans to establish a college wh ...

. ''Delta chapter was'' founded on May 12, 1956, at

Shippensburg University Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (Ship or SU) is a public university in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Founded in 1871, it later became the first teachers college in Pennsylvania ...

. Finally, ''Zeta chapter'' was founded on April 15, 1989, at Millersville University in Millersville, PA. Slow expansion has continued, with the recent installation of ''Eta chapter'' at

Thiel College Thiel College (, ) is a private college in Greenville, Pennsylvania. It is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is one of the smallest colleges or universities in the region with about 100 full-time and part time facult ...

. Pi Nu Epsilon today continues with efforts on its campuses to promote campus music organizations. It draws a majority of members from bands, choirs and ensembles. The society provide ushering at university performances, caroling at nursing homes, volunteer at local parades, fundraise for non-profit student radio stations and several chapters sponsor a "Battle of the Bands" competition.

Chapters

According to the national website, these are the chapters of Pi Nu Epsilon. Chapters noted in bold are active, inactive chapters in ''italics'':

References

{{Authority control 1927 establishments in Illinois Honor societies Illinois Institute of Technology Student organizations established in 1927