Category Archives: Official Statements

Joint Statement on Military Bands

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To the Brothers and Sisters of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma,

The National Leadership of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma take great pride in the work our organizations do in service to college and university bands. We also take pride in the many members of our organizations who actively serve in the United States Military.

To that end, you may be aware of legislation making its way through the United States Congress regarding the funding of military service bands and their activities. An amendment attached to the version of the 2017 Defense Appropriations Act passed by the House of Representatives is currently awaiting action by the United States Senate. This legislation, if passed into law would severely reduce the permissible activities of said groups, removing parades, concerts, and other performances that do not directly support official ceremonial activities.

While our primary mission is the support of college and university bands, we as joint organizations feel it is important to inform our members when actions being taken impact the greater band community. If this is something that you feel very strongly about, we encourage you to reach out to your United States Senators and voice your support for bands of all kinds, including those that serve in the military capacity. If you are not sure how to contact your Senator (or do not know who that might be), please go here: http://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/. 

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Kathryn D. Kelly, M.D.
National President for Tau Beta Sigma
“We provide exceptional service to collegiate bands and promote equality and diversity, including empowering women in the band profession. We cultivate leadership, educational achievement, music appreciation and community development.” – Tau Beta Sigma Mission Statement

Jack Lee
National President for Kappa Kappa Psi
“Kappa Kappa Psi is a co-educational fraternal organization that advances college and university bands for the benefit of its members and society through dedicated service and support to bands, encouragement of musical growth, lifelong educational experiences, leadership opportunities, and recognition.” – Kappa Kappa Psi Mission Statement

Statement From National President Jack D. Lee

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Brothers,

I write to you today with a great sense of love and gratitude. I am thankful that I became a Brother of Kappa Kappa Psi. I am thankful that Kappa Kappa Psi is a place where all Brothers should feel welcomed and supported. I love that this Fraternity continually reminds me that we celebrate love over hate.

The recent events throughout the world, from Baton Rouge to Minnesota to Orlando to the Middle East, unfortunately show us that not everyone in the world shares the same views that I know our Brothers do.  I encourage each of you to remember the tenets of our ritual, and to live by them. If you are doing so, you are making this world a better place. If you are doing so, you are showing the world that this organization makes you a better human being.

As we continue to move through the month of July, and we begin to travel back to our universities for summer band camp, review the purposes of our organization. There, you will find that Kappa Kappa Psi, and each of you, work to support our organization’s being:  college and university bands.  It is through participation in band that we all share a universal trait: we are musicians.  Let us continue to use that skill to create beauty, joy, and inspiration to this world.

Please know that the entire national leadership of Kappa Kappa Psi stands, shoulder to shoulder, with our Brothers. No one should be treated differently or live in fear simply based on the color of their skin, a uniform that they wear, their religious beliefs, or their sexual orientation.  It is not appropriate, it is not right, and it will not happen here in Kappa Kappa Psi because our Brotherhood is better than that. Because our Brotherhood spreads love.

AEA,

Jack D. Lee

National President

Kappa Kappa Psi

Kappa Kappa Psi Official Statement on Orlando Tragedy

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The National Leadership of Kappa Kappa Psi is proud of the work of this fraternity. We are proud that we are a fraternity that is made up of diverse individuals. Individuals that commit themselves to the selfless service of college and university band programs. Individuals that are, each and every one, a family member; a brother. Our diversity is often celebrated among our members, and it is the love that we all share that allows us to join in fellowship to be embraced as a brother.

Kappa Kappa Psi stands with and supports our brothers and the people of Orlando. We send our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and we will continue to support our own beloved fraternity members affected by this tragedy. As an organization, we embrace and celebrate our diversity – it is what makes us the great Fraternity that we are – and we empower our members to live with authenticity and courage. We stand with our brothers of the LGBT community and support their right to live and love without fear of hatred, intolerance, or violence. In keeping with our belief that music is a universal language and as we move forward with our mission to promote and advance college and university bands, we echo the words of Leonard Bernstein:

“This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.”