Sigma Chi First Place in Fryberger Sing Competition

Editor's Note: This discusses two Greek organizations, Sigma Chi and Sigma Kappa, who participated in and placed first in a singing competition and fundraiser. This was a good idea for it aloud all of the Greek organizations at the University of Louisville to compete against each other and at the same time raise money.


Sigma Kappa, Sigma Chi top 71st Fryberger Sing competition

March 6th, 2008


By Sarah Kayrouz

Months of preparation paid off for Sigma Kappa sorority and Sigma Chi fraternity March 2 when each claimed first place honors in their divisions at the University of Louisville’s Fryberger Greek Sing competition and fundraiser.

The competition, a 71-year tradition that began with groups singing a cappella on the steps of Grawemeyer Hall, now sees fraternities and sororities focus their creativity into full-scale musical productions complete with elaborate costumes and choreographed dance steps.

An 18-member board and Joni Burke, an assistant director of student life, produce the entire competition doing everything from securing the location to positioning each microphone on stage.

Fryberger is one of the few Greek-wide events that parents are invited to, Burke said. It is a special event for some of those parents who participated in the sing when they were students.

This year’s event saw all six sororities compete. Sigma Kappa’s winning performance was a medley from the Broadway show and film “A Chorus Line.”

Eleven of UofL’s 12 fraternities competed. Sigma Chi extended its winning tradition to 12 years with a program of songs that have the word “girl” in the title.

The Fryberger Sing was started in 1937 for Agnes Moore Fryberger, a music teacher at UofL in the 1930s. Her students arranged the musical competition to honor her when she was forced to leave the university due to illness. It remained a university-wide event for several decades until waning interest threatened its existence. The Greek community then adopted it as its own.

The event has grown tremendously since then. It now takes place at Memorial Auditorium, a venue that seats 1,700 people — which it has outgrown. Fryberger Sing regularly sells out.

In 2000, organizers began to charge admission. Proceeds help fund student attendance at leadership conferences. Starting this year, they also go to a new $1,000 scholarship for one sorority and one fraternity member. The Fryberger scholarship is rewarded based on financial need, academic achievement and campus and community involvement.

Posted By: Mike Schroeder