Greek Sing's Origins
While we are still trying to determine the exact year Greek Sing was first held, we have ties to performances as early as 1932.
The show was originally called "Sing and Swing," which was a choral competition between fraternities and sororities (sometimes they were given mandatory songs, and other times chapters selected the songs themselves) that were popular in the time period. Originally performed on campus in Thistle Hall (now the Highmark Center for Health, Wellness and Athletics), the show went on for about an hour. Individual sororities and fraternities competed in their own categories, with other organizations getting permission to join and compete in their own category later on.
Sing and Swing
After the competition was over and the winners received their trophies, the event transformed into an open social dance held until 1 am. Students and guests were invited to the floor to dance and socialize, making it a celebratory, community-centered conclusion to the formal Greek Sing program.
This event went on until about the 70s, where chapters slowly began pairing with each other and competing as groups. In this switch, groups also began shifting to performing musicals, parodies, and other various shows, rather than solely singing.
Today
Beginning in the 1980s, Greek Sing has been held in Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall. In recent years, Greek Sing at Carnegie Mellon University has expanded to include philanthropic partnerships, further connecting the event to service and community impact. Chapters now align their performances with charitable causes and raise funds to support nonprofit organizations, using the visibility and energy of Greek Sing to amplify awareness and give back. This addition reflects the Fraternity and Sorority Life community’s commitment to philanthropy, allowing the tradition to celebrate not only creativity and collaboration, but also meaningful contributions to causes beyond campus.
Beginning in 2026, Greek Sing is returning to CMU's campus!
For most of Greek Sing's history, the show took place in Pittsburgh's Syria Mosque, a landmark 3,700-seat venue in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood, was a renowned venue for concerts, including Greek Sing competitions. Dedicated in 1916, it was known for its architecture and, for decades, hosted performers like Pink Floyd, Sinatra, and the Pittsburgh Symphony before its demolition in August 1991.
Individual chapters sang barbershop-style or with only a piano accompanying them, competed in their own categories (sororities, fraternities, and other organizations). Women wore dresses, and men wore coats and tails.
Chapters began partnering together to compete in groups and put on shows and parodies, rather than competing in only choral performances.
Chapters perform what we know as Greek Sing today!
Philanthropic support through Greek Sing raised as much as 6 figures for local partners.
