MSU President's Column for Traill County Tribune

January 13, 2017

The Dueling Pianos Party is coming to town!

 

The MSU Foundation will be hosting an exciting event on Friday evening, Feb. 3. Just in time to help chase away the winter blues and cabin fever, the Midwest Dueling Pianos Party will be on campus! There will be a social, featuring an hors d’oeuvres buffet and cash bar, from 6 to 7 p.m. The entertainment will begin at 7 p.m. and continue until 10 p.m. The event will be held in the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room, and is being held as a fundraiser for the MSU Foundation annual fund. We are grateful to our sponsors who are making this event possible.

The Midwest Dueling Pianos program is sure to bring a level of fun to Mayville State that those who attend will never forget. This has quickly become one of the most sought-after dueling piano production companies in the country. You may have seen the widely popular dueling pianos concept performed when you’ve been out of the area, but now that level of excitement, hilarity, musicianship, and raw fun will be happening right here in Mayville! The interactive musical comedy experience will have you singing, shouting, dancing, and laughing.

The Midwest Dueling Pianos’ young, energetic, and exciting entertainers will perform an all-request-driven show with music ranging from the songs of today to as far back as your memories can take you. Audience members will provide the direction of the show to the performers by writing their favorite songs on request slips that they bring up to the two pianos, which will be front and center.

The multi-talented dueling pianos entertainers will then perform the requested songs, while urging the audience to participate. To further the crowd interaction, some audience members may be asked to volunteer to go onto the stage to perform a song, dance, and/or skit that will probably bring the house down. Don’t worry! If you’re not into audience participation, you’ll be perfectly comfortable just sitting back and enjoying the show.

We’d love to have you join us for this evening, which promises to be great fun, while benefiting a great cause, the students of Mayville State University. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.mayvillestate.edu/duelingpianos, or by contacting the MSU Foundation at 701-788-4864. You must be 21 years of age or older to attend.

Entertainment sponsors for the appearance of Midwest Dueling Pianos at Mayville State are Jon and Betsy Ewen and Rob and Kim Lauf of Mayville. Entertainment co-sponsors are Roger and Linda Baier of Mayville. Mayville native Terry Bachmeier, now living in Mesa, Ariz., is sponsoring the hors d’oeuvres buffet, along with co-sponsors Steve and Linda Hilstad of Mayville. Overall event sponsors are Moore Engineering, Riddle’s Jewelry, and Gate City Bank. Thanks to our generous sponsors, 100% of the ticket proceeds will go to help students through the MSU Foundation annual fund. Half of your ticket purchase price is tax-deductible.

Ray and Alana Gerszewski of Mayville’s Hometown Inn are stepping up with their support too. They are offering a special rate of $60 per night, plus tax, for people attending the Dueling Pianos Party on Feb. 3. Rooms will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you’re interested in this special offer, you should contact Hometown Inn at 701-786-9081.

Please mark your calendar for Feb. 3 and plan for an exciting evening that will include fabulous entertainment, a cash bar, and an opportunity to support the annual fund at Mayville State University. If you have questions about the event or the ticket ordering process, feel free to contact Dena Bergstrom at the MSU Foundation, 701-788-4864.