What It Means to Be TBS

As members of Tau Beta Sigma, we vow to uphold finer womanhood and musicianship by being outstanding bandswomen and teachers. It is our purpose to show others that the bond we share is unbreakable and immovable. Standing up to the many challenges we face, we are strong, determined women who refuse to be defeated.

 

Our Mission

Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority provides service to collegiate bands, encourages the advancement of women in the band profession, and promotes and enriches an appreciation of band music through recognition, leadership development and education of its members.

 

The first practical idea for establishing a “band sorority” as a national entity to meet the expressed needs of the growing number of women in college and university bands was presented by band member Wava Banes (Henry), along with her classmates, Emily So Relle and Rose Nell Williams, to director D.O. Wiley of the Texas Tech University Band in the closing months of 1937.

 

This discussion led to a group of bandswomen at Texas Tech University founding a local organization known as “Tau Beta Sigma,” modeled in principle on the example of Kappa Kappa Psi. Much like the Fraternity, Tau Beta Sigma’s purpose at Tech was to serve as an honorary service and leadership recognition society, but it was designed especially to provide the important additional social, educational, and other positive experiences needed by women in the band.

 

In June of 1943, the Tech women petitioned the Grand Council of Kappa Kappa Psi to become an integral part of the national Fraternity as an active chapter.  Accepting the group under these circumstances, however, would have entailed a complete revision of the Kappa Kappa Psi constitution. Because of the war, doubt was expressed as to just when the next fraternity convention would be held so that the issue could be brought to the debate.

 

Rather than postponing action on the women’s request indefinitely, a suggestion was made that Tau Beta Sigma form its own national organization, just as the National Fraternity had done in 1919. Until a national convention of Kappa Kappa Psi could be held and the matter clarified, Tau Beta Sigma could be considered the “sister organization” of the Fraternity.

 

The Grand Council of Kappa Kappa Psi agreed that Tau Beta Sigma could share in all fraternal publications.

While applying for a national charter, the Tech Chapter encountered difficulties involving certain Texas state corporation laws. In 1945, A. Frank Martin, National Executive Secretary of Kappa Kappa Psi, was invited to meet with the women and work out a plan that would bring the Sorority the national status the Tau Beta Sigma women were seeking.

 

Mr. Martin then suggested that the local band sorority currently in existence at Oklahoma State University apply for the charter since fewer difficulties would be encountered in Oklahoma. So, in January of 1946, the women of the Texas Tech Tau Beta Sigma Band Sorority, through their director, D.O. Wiley, graciously surrendered their name, “TAU BETA SIGMA,” their constitution, ritual, and jewelry designs to the local band club at Oklahoma State University, in order that the national organization could be established.

 

By doing so, the Tech women understood that they were permitting the Oklahoma State group the title of “Alpha, the Mother Chapter,” and accepted the status of “Beta Chapter,” the second chartered chapter. On March 26, 1946, a charter was granted by the Department of State for the State of Oklahoma legally establishing “Tau Beta Sigma, National Honorary Band Sorority,” later amended to “Tau Beta Sigma.”  On May 4 of 1946, the members of the Alpha Chapter traveled to Lubbock, Texas, to officially install the women of Texas Tech as the Beta Chapter of the National Sorority.

 

These ladies paved the way for the ladies of Zeta Iota to become better bandswomen, and for this, we honor your legacy.

WE LOVE YOU!

The Zeta Iota Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma was chartered as the 153rd chapter on May 6, 1978 at Jackson State University by eleven (11) young, talented, and musically inclined ladies.

Big Sister Sandra ToneyBig Sister Gloria WalkerBig Sister JoAnn WhiteBig Sister Veretta Shankle-HeidlebergBig Sister Vanessa MozeeBig Sister Cheryl WilsonBig Sister Barbara LewisBig Sister Sherrion LewisBig Sister Juanita WilliamsBig Sister Jean-Coney LaneBig Sister Anna Martin

 

9 Lives of Tau Beta Sigma ~Spring 1979~

Big Sister Andrea Faye RobinsonBig Sister Tambria ThomasBig Sister Hazell BellBig Sister Cynthia MosleyBig Sister Natalie ThompsonBig Sister Marcia AllenBig Sister Pamela JohnsonBig Sister Lorraine HudsonBig Sister Debbie Brewer

 

12 Tutti Quasi Line
~Spring 1980~

Big Sister Charles Ann BrownerBig Sister Shirley WatsonBig Sister Elizabeth NeylandBig Sister Dewillican WellsBig Sister Ranita SoutherlandBig Sister Angela MageeBig Sister Phyliss MageeBig Sister Michelle DunningsBig Sister Orela BakerBig Sister Mary PortisBig Sister Velvie MillerBig Sister Irma Herron

 

15 Dolce Senoritas Unido Con Brio ~Spring 1981~

Big Sister Cheryl GeorgeBig Sister Tunya Brown VealBig Sister Gail Harper GriggsBig Sister Joyce Travis WatsonBig Sister Carmen WilliamsBig Sister Maxine SandersBig Sister Felicia Wilson NorfortBig Sister Claudie Davis LambBig Sister Suzanne HughesBig Sister Lisa TaylorBig Sister Iris Magee BonnerBig Sister Lafreda SiasBig Sister Kaye O’BannerBig Sister Vivian ArtisBig Sister Kathy Berry

 

8 Melodicious Mademoiselles of Musical Magic
~Spring 1982~

Big Sister Cheryl BaileyBig Sister Veronica MooreBig Sister Tonia BoldenBig Sister Mable FarishBig Sister Kathy WashingtonBig Sister Sandra BradfordBig Sister Christal ShirleyBig Sister Wylma Donice King

 

6 Musically Inclined with Tau Beta Sigma in Mind
~Spring 1983~

Big Sister Donna CookBig Sister Corliss AustinBig Sister Doreen RobinsonBig Sister Glendaria HamptonBig Sister Martha CollierBig Sister Shelia Coleman

 

2 Harmonious Tones of a Dynamic Duet ~Spring 1984~

Big Sister Mi’yetta EmirBig Sister Wangela Essix

 

3 Symphonic Songs in Memory of Haughton and Holden ~Spring 1985~

Big Sister Sonya MageeBig Sister Ava VarnadoBig Sister Alvis Brown

 

3 Vivacious Dimensions of a Tonic Chord ~Spring 1986~

Big Sister Valerie MartinBig Sister Karen WrennBig Sister Vyvette Jennings

 

7 Synthesized Sisters of a Rhythmic Beat ~Spring 1987~

Big Sister Valencia DorseyBig Sister Loretta SimsBig Sister Kimberly MorrisBig Sister Deanna EdwardsBig Sister Deborah BellBig Sister Luzetta YoungBig Sister Bernita Ruffin Washington

 

~Spring 1988~

Big Sister Rhonda BassBig Sister Nancy Johnson

 

3 Musical Miracles of TBS ~Spring 1989~

Big Sister Stephanie O’QuinnBig Sister Dionne DickersonBig Sister Felisa Magee

 

7 Taunacious Sisters Blended in Perfect Harmony ~Fall 1990~

Big Sister Erica AndrewsBig Sisters Frances WalkerBig Sister Inger ColliesBig Sister Vanessa JohnsonBig Sister Katira L. WrenBig Sister Francesca L. McKnightBig Sister Gwendolyn Jones

 

9 Soulful Survivors Strengthened with the Heart of a New Decade ~Fall 1991~

Big Sister Kenna RichardBig Sister Felicia AtkinsBig Sister Latisha Lachaunette WilliamsBig Sister Theonetta Jean DavisBig Sister Keisa PopeBig Sister Carolyn DavisBig Sister Coretta MageeBig Sister Kim ReddBig Sister Tiffany D.M. James

 

The West Point Players: 6 Diversified Divas Who Dared to Dream ~Fall 1992~

Big Sister Felicia AdamsBig Sister Reca Sherell PowellBig Sister Stephenie Renae’ LylesBig Sister Endora CrossBig Sister Yvette Monique ShortBig Sister Shawn Marie Meredith Gulley

 

3 Majestic Melodies Striving for Perfection in Tau Beta Sigma ~Fall 1993~

Big Sister Nora JonesBig Sister Tamara Joy BarneyBig Sister Robin Mathews

 

4 Funkedified Ladies with the Determination Not to Accept Defeat ~Fall 1994~

Big Sister RaKisha KingBig Sister Shamika B. WoodsBig Sister Nicole JacksonBig Sister LaKisha Spears

 

7 Devilish Phenomenal Crafty Inseparable Sisters Conjoined with Love in the Name of Tau Beta Sigma ~Fall 1996~

Big Sister Claudra BrownBig Sister Johanna CannonBig Sister Ayana JacksonBig Sister LaTundra EdwardsBig Sister Careese McGeeBig Sister Crystal ThomasBig Sister Roishina Clay

 

2 No Limit Soldiers Standing Steadfast for the Love of Zeta Iota ~Spring 1997~

Big Sister LaSundra Vanessa BellamyBig Sister Dionne Harrison

 

3 Part Harmony Magically Making Music for the New Millennium ~Spring 1998~

Big Sister Jennifer MiltonBig Sister Kenyatta McDonaldBig Sister Robyn Jewel Beard

 

7 Psychedelic Sisters Melodiously Bringing the Funk Into a New Millennium in Zeta Iota ~Fall 1999~

Big Sister Donyale Monique WallsBig Sister Kenesha WilliamsBig Sister Latoria DonaldBig Sister Natalie Anton YoungBig Sister Aquita Michelle PatilloBig Sister Harriet CourseBig Sister Joy Brownlee

 

8 C.A.N.T.A.U.B.I.L.E.
~Fall 2000~

Big Sister Ashley Shatora EllsionBig Sister LaTasha Denise MiddletonBig Sister Carrie Elizabeth WilloughbyBig Sister LaToya Michelle ReaganBig Sister Ebony Renea’ GreenBig Sister Reva LaVerne Odom BarnesBig Sister Esterlener Janeen PolkBig Sister Kimesha Latiese Worthy

 

1 W.H.O. L.O.V.E.S. T.A.U. B.E.T.A. S.I.G.M.A. ~Fall 2001~

Big Sister Allison M. Washington

 

16 N.O.T.E.S. ~Fall 2002~

Big Sister Brittany MoncureBig Sister Aminah ShakoorBig Sister LaNeka LamarBig Sister Dzondria JonesBig Sister Siedia WoodsBig Sister Debra DavisBig Sister Chuntil BenjaminBig Sister Marcella McCracklinBig Sister Latoya McMullenBig Sister Jamie BennettBig Sister Sha’Nel ButlerBig Sister Faydrian JenningsBig Sister Ebonique MartinBig Sister LeKeisha BlackmonBig Sister Kaala HentzBig Sister Nadia Michelle Dale

 

9 D.R.A.M.A.T.I.C.S.
~Spring 2004~

Big Sister Jasma Nicole HuddlestonBig Sister Megan Brittany HillBig Sister LaKeisha Sharisse WatsonBig Sister Taimei Tanika HarrisBig Sister Marye Bryant SmithBig Sister Dyneka Lashandra ByrdBig Sister Kassandra Alisha BellBig Sister Tiffany Marie BarnerBig Sister Stephanie Terricia Wilks

 

7 S.H.O.W.T.I.M.E. ~Fall 2005~

Big Sister Pachen StirgusBig Sister Millicent VaughnBig Sister Coroma CombsBig Sister Demenia CunninghamBig Sister Brittany YoungBig Sister Katreena ShelbyBig Sister Yolanda Bowens

 

13 G.H.O.S.T.S. ~Spring 2007~

Big Sister Martha JohnsonBig Sister Chloe’ AshleyBig Sister Courtney LettBig Sister Kalondria NilesBig Sister Dominishia WilsonBig Sister LaTausha BonnerBig Sister Joelle HandyBig Sister Sha’Meka GolsonBig Sister Bridgshe’ HardyBig Sister Alana SweeneyBig Sister Breawna KirkpatrickBig Sister Valeshia SumpterBig Sister Brittany Cotton

 

4 D.Y.N.A.M.I.C.S
~Spring 2008~

Big Sister Tia CarrBig Sister Lisa ShepardBig Sister Krystle EasleyBig Sister JoVanreis Tolliver

 

5 A.C.C.I.D.E.N.T.A.L.S
~Spring 2010~

Big Sister Jaleesa ThomasBig Sister Katerri O’NealBig Sister Ikeya HazardBig Sister Monique PaytonBig Sister Erica McIntyre

 

10 C.H.A.R.A.C.T.E.R.S
~Spring 2011~

Big Sister Victoria MontgomeryBig Sister Labreia ThurmanBig Sister Cambree AlexandriaBig Sister Veronica ClevelandBig Sister Brittany JacksonBig Sister Kristin CampbellBig Sister Jasmine SmithBig Siten Kristen NashBig Sister Patrice HubbardBig Sister Ivy Kennedy