Alumni Who Showed Me the Way

DONNA CHRZANOWSKI, PHI KAPPA, DETROIT ALUMNI

When I graduated from Wayne State University in 1987 with a degree in music education, I had some idea of the life of a teacher, but not the life of a music teacher. Somehow the two seemed to be a bit different. Most teachers that I knew weren’t going off to rehearsals in the evening, performing or attending concerts on the weekends or giving private lessons whenever they weren’t in class: except the members of the Detroit Alumni chapter.

I had met many of these women when I became a Mu Phi a few years earlier and they were very welcoming of all Collegiates, but because I was the president of Phi Kappa, I had a bit more communication with them. In these ladies, I saw the life that I was going to embark upon: wife, mother and of course, music teacher.

Charlotte McCray (Gamma) was one of the first members that I got to know as we were both delegates from the Detroit area to the Atlanta convention. Back then, airfare was provided by the Fraternity and so our tickets had us sitting next to each other on the plane. Charlotte told me how she was able to teach music and raise her family by being able to work part-time until her children were in school themselves. When I, too, became an elementary general music teacher, it was Charlotte who took the time to go through her materials and give me songs and materials for the little ones. Charlotte also would perform for the alumni chapter at least once a year, as she said that it kept her practicing so that she could be the best for her students.

Other inspiring members of the Detroit Alumni chapter included Patricia Junker (Phi Kappa) and Marian Alan (Phi Kappa, Detroit Alumni). These ladies had extensive private lesson studios and often taught most every night of the week, and yet they made time for their families and for Mu Phi. Pat was the district director when I was a Collegiate president and she hosted a few of our concerts at her home. My chapter hosted the ceremony for Marion following a special election. Both of these ladies were always giving to others in having monthly set times for sing-a-longs at senior centers and were the inspiration behind the Detroit Alumni song books.

Through Marian Wingert (Phi Kappa), I learned to maintain a level of professionalism and always strive to the best in performance and in everything you do. Marian raised three children while performing as a cellist in the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and living in Detroit, an hour’s drive away. Her son is currently playing in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra as a cellist. After she retired, Marian put together programs for children and would travel to libraries to tell stories using her string bass. Her stories were charming and very engaging to children of all ages and I learned about performing and being ready to perform through Marian.

It was Beth Shafe (Phi Kappa), the first recipient of the Eleanor Hale Wilson-Rosalie V. Speciale Lifetime Achievement Award, who showed me the wonderfulness of Mu Phi and all the friends and musical excellence that this Fraternity has to offer.

She took me under her wing and passed on many things that the Detroit Alumni chapter would do and demanded that in all things it was done correctly. And yet, Beth, too, raised a family and she and her husband were both music teachers. One of the biggest lessons from Beth was that we as Mu Phis should help to support our Fraternity and Foundation through donations to help others in their pursuit of music excellence. Beth showed me how to become a Golden Benefactor.

My list of other members who gave advice or shared their favorite songs and activities for children would include most of the members of the Detroit Alumni chapter, many of whom have since passed. These ladies were encouraging and understanding when my young family kept me from meetings and from participating in events as much as I would have liked. I remember being once apologetic when I had missed meetings, and Ida Swigart (Gamma) said to me, “Donna, don’t worry about it. We’ve all been there and had those moments. We’re glad that you are here, now.”

I feel that the biggest lesson that I’ve learned is to always include all Mu Phis and to be as welcoming and warm as you can be. Try to attend their performances and support them in their pursuits and careers, and to be the best in everything that we do, because we are Mu Phi Epsilon!