RAPID CITY, SD (Feb. 6, 2018) – Student musicians from the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
will perform Big Band era music during the Sweetheart Dinner & Dance
Saturday, Feb. 17, at the SD Mines Music
Center. Proceeds from the event will benefit music scholarships at Mines.
The Sweetheart Dinner & Dance will be from 5:30 p.m. to
8 p.m. and include a four-course meal, dessert bar and music performances by
both jazz and choral students at Mines. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased here. Deadline to purchase tickets is
Sunday, Feb. 11.
“Each
meal course will be paired with musical selections ending with swing music of
the World War II era,” said Haley Armstrong, D.M.A., director of bands at
Mines. Tunes people might recognize include “In the Mood,” “Sing Sing Sing,”
“Embraceable You” and classical pieces like “Fanfare for the Common Man.”
“This is very nostalgic music that many people know and
love,” said Armstrong. “To hear it performed by such a talented group of young
musicians will be a real treat.”
The goal of the dinner is not only to entertain, but to
engage students in the philanthropic effort to increase the number of music
scholarships offered by the Music Department. Students will serve the meals as
well as perform. Two years ago, the department could offer just eight
scholarships. Last year, 16 SD Mines students received music scholarships. The
goal for next year – 25. Music scholarships range from $500 to $3,000. Currently,
235 of the 2,778 students at Mines are involved in its music programs.
"I think it’s important for students to be part of the
philanthropy,” said Armstrong. “It’s a chance to instill the spirit of giving
in our students.”