Alma Mater

The university alma mater, with words and music composed by John Bert Graham, director of music, was first performed by the Young Men's Glee Club at chapel services on September 19, 1914. The Trinitonian hailed the song as being “noble and inspiring” with “an easy air and swing to it that adds much to its attractiveness.”

We sing to thee, our Trinity,
the school we hold so dear.
We raise in song our voices strong
to honor and revere.
Your sons and daughters, proud and true,
will ever sing your praise:
Alma Mater, Alma Mater,
All Hail to Trinity
Your banner bright, maroon and white,
we hold in high esteem.
It proudly floats upon the breeze,
o’er all your campus green.
Throughout our days and all our lives,
our hearts will cherish thee:
Alma Mater, Alma Mater,
All Hail to Trinity

In the 60s, students stopped learning the alma mater, formerly an important element in freshmen orientation. It would disappear almost completely from ceremonial occasions in the ensuing decade.

Late in the 1990s, Calgaard commissioned music professor Timothy Kramer to create a new version of the university's alma mater. The former alma mater had not been sung at campus events since the early 1960s, and Kramer sought to create a song that had "vitality but a singable melody." His revised version took its impetus from the Trinity bell peal conceived by composer William Thornton, former chair of the department of music. "We Sing to Thee" was first performed publicly in February 1999 by the university choir at the annual president's dinner honoring the Trinity Associates.