‘Tis the season for holiday music! Everywhere you turn (which is likely just your living room right now, ha!) you’re bound to hear Christmas songs. While there may be no door-to-door caroling this year, we know members of Pi Kappa Lambda are filling their homes with festive holiday cheer! 

Founded in 1918 at Northwestern University, Pi Kappa Lambda honors collegiate-level students who excel in music and look to further music education in higher-ed settings. According to their website, the mission of PKL is “to provide an organization dedicated to the furtherance of music in education and education in music in colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher learning, which offer music degree programs in one or more fields.” They state that “the primary objective of the Society is the recognition and encouragement of the highest level of musical achievement and academic scholarship.”

The organization holds many events throughout the year across its 200 chapters nationwide, including concerts, lectures, forums, workshops, and a national convention.

Membership to Pi Kappa Lambda is direct, but selective. Seniors must be in the top 5% of their class and Juniors the top 10%. They state “the organization has been one of continuing expansion. Election to membership in Pi Kappa Lambda has been indicative of superior attainment in music, together with the personal qualifications pertaining to an outstanding exponent of the art.”

While graduate members tend to wear stoles and pins signifying their membership, you could see them wearing honor cords of their organization’s colors, black and gold.

Are you a member of Pi Kappa Lambda? Let us know in the comments!