Kappa Gamma Psi
# Kappa Gamma Psi

Kappa Gamma Psi (ΚΓΨ) is a performing arts fraternity in the United States that was founded in 1913. Its last surviving collegiate chapter (Iota) went inactive in 2008, but the National Organization continues and is founding alumni chapters. Its membership was restricted to males, before it became coeducational in the 1970s.

## Founding

Kappa Gamma Psi was founded on December 11, 1913 by twelve faculty members at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.

## Chapters

These are the chapters of Kappa Gamma Psi. Active chapters noted in bold, inactive chapters noted in italics. Iota chapter, at Ithaca College in upstate New York (founded in 1929), was the last active chapter, becoming dormant in 2008. Members of several former chapters remain in contact and gather periodically.

| Name | Chartered | Institution | Location | Status | Notes | Reference |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Alpha | December 11, 1913–1968 | New England Conservatory of Music | Boston, MA | Inactive | There was no fraternity housing for this chapter, only a chapter room which was taken away in 1968 by the school, and the chapter went inactive. | Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's |
| Beta | March 21, 1916–1919 | University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | Inactive | All chapter members were killed in action while serving in World War I, chapter went in active. | per James Wiltshire, former National President, Kappa Gamma Psi, 1970's-1986 |
| Gamma | 1923–1932, 1948–1976 | Boston Conservatory of Music | Boston, MA | Inactive | This chapter was a mix of theatre majors as well as music majors. Gamma was the last chapter to go inactive before Iota. | per James Wiltshire, former National President, Kappa Gamma Psi, 1970's-1986. |
| Delta | 1924–1956 | University of Utah | Salt Lake City, UT | Inactive | last confirmed existence, an early 1950's issue of the Gray and Black | Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's |
| Epsilon 1 | 1924–1939 | Pennsylvania State University | University Park, PA | Inactive | charter transferred to the new Epsilon Chapter at Boston University in 1950 | Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's |
| Epsilon 2 | 1950–1973 | Boston University | Boston, MA | Inactive | Charter was transferred from first Epsilon Chapter at Penn State University. | Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's |
| Zeta | 1927–1932 | University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | Inactive | went inactive during the Great Depression | Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's |
| Eta | 1927–1939 | Louisiana State University | Baton Rouge, LA | Inactive | | Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's |
| Theta | 1928–1938 | Louisiana Polytechnic Institute | Ruston, LA | Inactive | Now known as Louisiana Tech University. | Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's |
| Iota | 1929–2008 | Ithaca College | Ithaca, NY | Inactive | This was the last remaining active chapter. | |
| Kappa | 1929–1954 | Chicago Musical College | Chicago, IL | Inactive | School closed in 1954 following purchase by another institution. Kappa Chapter members did not wish to move to the distant campus of the acquiring school. The old downtown location provided better playing opportunities for young musicians, so some Kappa Chapter members transferred to DePaul University and started the Mu Chapter. | Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's |
| Lambda | 1933–1939 | Cincinnati School of Music | Cincinnati, OH | Inactive | | Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's |
| Mu | 1954–1956 | DePaul University | Chicago, IL | Inactive | Chapter started by former members of Kappa Chapter who transferred to DePaul University following the closure of their old school. | Iota Chapter Archives, 1980's |

## Composition contest and commissioned works

Kappa Gamma Psi's Iota chapter (Ithaca College) formerly sponsored a competition for new compositions. The widely performed band composition The Leaves Are Falling, by the American composer Warren Benson, was commissioned by Kappa Gamma Psi in 1963. Deux Preludes, a work for flute, clarinet, and bassoon by the Czech-born composer Karel Husa, was commissioned by the Iota chapter in 1966. Elie Siegmeister's Sextet for Brass and Percussion was commissioned in 1966. In 1974, the Iota chapter commissioned Alfred Reed's Double Wind Quintet.

## Notable members

* Halim El-Dabh, composer (1921-2017)
* Bert Remsen, actor (1925–1999)

### Notable honorary members

* Harold Bauer
* Joseph Bonner
* Pablo Casals
* Philip Greeley Clapp
* Ferdinand Dunkley
* Frank Battisti
* George Eastman
* Duke Ellington
* Ossip Gabrilowitsch
* Philip Hale
* Louis Hasselmans
* Hans Kindler
* Fritz Kreisler
* Erich Leinsdorf
* George Longy
* Béla Böszörményi-Nagy
* Ignace Paderewski
* Attilio Poto
* Leroy Robinson
* Jesús María Sanromá
* Nicholas Schwalt
* Elie Siegmeister
* Lawrence Tibbett
* Roman Tottenburg
* Bruno Walter
* William L. Whitney
