Seven women musicians with a vision founded Sigma Alpha Iota on June 12, 1903 at the University School of Music in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They pledged solemnly "to help each other with sisterly affection, to stand for the highest musical scholarship, for nobility and uprightness of character and for the maintenance of friendly and unselfish relations among women in the musical profession."
Since then, SAI has grown to include 100,000 members, over 200 student chapters, and over 100 alumnae chapters. SAI continues to uphold the ideals of the original seven, bringing together women who share a love of music and who strive to nurture each other's musical goals in addition to supporting musical outreach projects to enrich the community.