[5] Mills was profoundly interested in the physical, mental, moral, and spiritual development of the conservatory's students and had a tradition of hosting devotional meetings going back as far as 1886.

Several men who attended the reception began to discuss the possibility of organizing a more permanent social club, and a meeting was planned for October 6, 1898, for that purpose.

[8] The fraternity attributes the name "Sinfonia" to prominent American composer George W. Chadwick, then director of the conservatory.

Chadwick was elected as the second honorary member of the club after Ossian Mills, and suggested the name "Sinfonia" from a student organization to which he had belonged in Leipzig, Germany.

The delegates to the 29th National Convention in 1946 approved changing the corporate name to Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, which it remains today.

[9] The Sinfonia Club became a national fraternity on October 6, 1900, with the admission of a group of men at the Broad Street Conservatory of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under the direction of Gilbert Raynolds Combs.

[10] For the next two decades, Phi Mu Alpha grew and emphasized developing high character among male musicians.

Percy Jewett Burrell, sixth Supreme President (1907–1914),[11] was influential during its formative years because of his long tenure in office and extensive writings.

Burrell wrote many articles calling for members to develop within themselves the noble virtues espoused by the fraternity's exoteric and esoteric teachings.

[8] After the American victory in World War II, the young men who returned from battle to re-enter the nation's universities through the benefits of the G.I.

Bill were less interested in an organization devoted to upholding noble ideals—ideals that seemed naive given the men's wartime experiences—than they were in the practical matter of finding civilian employment.

[16] Since its centennial in 1998, Phi Mu Alpha has re-embraced the vision of its founders as an organization devoted primarily to the character development of its members.

[18][19] The essential design of Phi Mu Alpha's official membership badge (pin) was adopted at the 1st National Convention in 1901.

The design consisted of an upward-pointing equilateral triangle with a gold old English S on a field of black enamel, surrounded by twelve pearls and six rubies.

[citation needed] The official fraternity flag consists of a red field with the coat of arms centered on a wide black diagonal stripe extending from the upper hoist to the lower fly.

[38] A man becomes a probationary member by accepting an invitation to membership extended to him by a collegiate chapter and by participating in the fraternity's official Ceremony for Pledging.

[40] During this program, probationary members learn basic information about the organization such as officer duties, rules, procedures, and traditions, and they are also instructed in the values and ideals of the fraternity.

[42] Unlike most collegiate fraternities, the vast majority of chapters of Phi Mu Alpha do not provide communal housing for their members as a means to accomplish the goals of social development and character building.

In October 2016, the National Executive Council (NEC) requested input on potentially updating the transgender policies of the Fraternity,[50] which had previously been interpreted as requiring members to be both "legally and medically male" at the time of probationary membership and initiation.

[51] As a result of this feedback, the NEC released an advisory statement that they interpreted the membership requirements to include "any individual who identifies consistently and in good faith as a man".

[52] Over a century old, Phi Mu Alpha has admitted men from all walks of life, some of whom have achieved notability in fields such as music, television, film, science, government, and literature.

Among these famous Sinfonians are famous composers such as Frank Ticheli, Morten Lauridsen, John Philip Sousa, John Mackey, and Clifton Williams, television personalities Fred Rogers (of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood) and Andy Griffith, jazz musicians Bill Evans, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Maynard Ferguson, Wayne Bergeron, Gordon Goodwin and Cannonball Adderley, rock musician Bo Diddley, Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, philanthropists Andrew Carnegie and George Eastman, politicians including 1948 Presidential candidate Thomas Dewey and New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia, folk singer and actor Burl Ives, tenor Luciano Pavarotti, and American Idol winner Ruben Studdard.

[53][54] Phi Mu Alpha has chartered 451 collegiate chapters at 445 colleges and universities across the United States in its history, of which 249 are currently active.

[58] The only basic qualification for an institution to house a chapter of Phi Mu Alpha is that it offers a four-year degree in music.

[81] The National Council in its present form consists of the members of the NEC, the PGs, and the president or his designee of each collegiate chapter.

[84] Province 31, which is made up of the states of Wyoming and Utah, has no active collegiate chapters or alumni associations and is therefore considered inactive.

[86] The PG acts as the representative of the National President in all matters about activities of the collegiate chapters, colonies, and alumni associations in his province.

Province councils organize themselves to plan activities and make decisions affecting the welfare of the province, membership education within each chapter, and chapter and alumni association interaction[92] The PGs and the CPRs organize themselves into respective councils to advise the NEC on the operations of the fraternity and facilitate communication among themselves.

The COS may also discipline individual members, chapters, and alumni associations for general misconduct that is harmful to the best interests or good name of the fraternity.

The COS must include in its membership at least one Province Governor and at least one collegiate member, though these statuses must only be held at the time of appointment and not for the entire term.