By Kelsey Rogers, Asst. living & arts editor
The Phi Mu Alpha fraternity celebrated the Valentine’s Day season by serenading students and faculty across campus.
The fraternity held a fundraiser where students purchased surprise serenades for their friends or partners.
The members of the fraternity then surprised students at various locations on campus. Some individuals opened their door to a large group bursting into song before them.
The fundraiser was brought back in 2017 after a proposal from chapter president, junior Jason Pandelidis, who at the time served as the fundraising chair for the fraternity.
The group had performed serenades for Valentine’s Day in the past, but the event stopped for a few years.
“I was talking to some of the brothers and I asked, ‘What if we did this thing for Valentine’s Day where we went out and sang for people?’” Pandelidis said. “They said that they used to do that, but they stopped.”
“So we decided to bring back the serenades,” Pandelidis said. Students had the option to either purchase a single serenade or a serenade accompanied with a rose.
The song selection was between the fraternity’s song “A Serenade to a Girl” or “I Want To Hold Your Hand” by the Beatles. The sender also had the option to keep their identity anonymous from the receiver of the serenade.
“Some people, their eyes light up and they are so excited,” Pandelidis said. “When we’re done, the first question is always who sent it.”
“There’s a lot of excitement and awe,” Pandelidis said.
Junior Jillian Ahrens was one of the students who received a serenade and said she was surprised.
“My boyfriend arranged for [Phi Mu Alpha] to come to my door and sing to me on Valentine’s Day,” Ahrens said. “I didn’t know how to react when I opened the door, but they were really talented and sounded amazing.”
Some reactions from the Susquehanna student body can be entertaining.
Vice president of Phi Mu Alpha, senior Kevin Gryzbek, recalled a practical joke the fraternity played on one of its own members.
“We had a brother who had a girlfriend and we were serenading her,” Gryzbek said. “What he didn’t know is that he [was receiving] a serenade as well.”
“We put him in the center of the room and sang to him and he wanted to run out,” Gryzbek added.
Many brothers agreed that their favorite part of the serenades was the reactions of those who receive the serenades.
“It’s a lot of work,” said sophomore Dalton Bierly. “Sometimes it’s cold outside, but it’s all worth it when you see you got to make someone’s day with something as little as a song.”
Junior Seth Schilling concurred and said, “The chaos of the nights is definitely daunting, but seeing the looks on people’s faces light up makes it all worth it.”
Other members noted funny reactions to the serenades, some of which were unexpected to the brothers.
Senior Tyler Ravert talked about their serenade to associate professor of music Marcos Krieger, during which University President Jonathan Green and Krieger himself joined in, as they are also brothers.
Gryzebek said his favorite thing about performing the serenades is seeing the students’ reactions and raising the money for their philanthropy.
All proceeds from the fundraiser go toward their philanthropy, “Save the Sound.” The organization donates to struggling music programs in the area in order for them to purchase new instruments.
“In the recent past we donated $1,000 to the Selinsgrove High School marching band so they can prepare and get new instruments,” Gryzbek said.
“A bunch of brothers actually went over to Selinsgrove High School and actually talked to the members about what we do and we took a picture for the local newspaper.”
