SMIC Extravaganza features new dueling pianos

By Molly Moser

Lakeside Ballroom was humming with activity on Saturday, March 4, as St. Mary Immaculate Conception School held their annual fundraiser Extravaganza. Over 300 event tickets were sold to participants who enjoyed a meal, bid on silent auction items, and sang along with piano entertainment.

A social hour began at 5 p.m. in the historic ballroom. St. Mary’s parents, students, parishioners and community members purchased raffle tickets and browsed donated auction items including artwork, gift baskets, half hogs, a spa package, four hours of excavating, a cedar bench and planter, a gardening kit, Christmas décor, a family photography session, contributions from each school classroom, and much more.

Dinner began at 6 p.m. Caterers from the Greenwood Grocery in Farley served pork chops, baked potatoes, salad mix, green beans with almonds, and a variety of delightful tarts from chocolate and Oreo to coconut and cherry.  

V.I.P. guests were the first to enjoy the meal. New this year, eight businesses and families sponsored a table and invited guests to share dinner, conversation and prime seats for the after-dinner entertainment. 

Over seventy individuals and organizations donated to the event, helping to raise funds for the Guttenberg school’s operating budget. “This is very important because it’s the only big fundraiser we do,” said Principal Joanne Hedemann. The school reported positive results from the most recent Iowa Assessment exams, which test students in reading, spelling, grammar, social studies, science, listening, math and computation. Average student growth was 38 points, with 82 percent of students in grades three through eight earning proficient or advanced proficient scores on the tests. Ninety percent of third graders taking the exams for the first time earned proficient ratings. 

Entertainers were Andy Anderson and Mike Leeds, dueling pianoists from Huxley. The high-energy show began with a satirical instructional video for first-time participants. Audience members were encouraged to put away cellphones, sing along, dance and make requests throughout the evening.

On two black grand pianos with ever-changing lighting, the pair led the audience through many decades and genres. From Johnny Cash, Billy Joel, and Elton John to Poison and Queen, the crowd got braver with each song. 

Hand-picked audience members performed the Iowa Fight Song and an unusual version of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." A long line of male audience members showed off their best dance moves. The audience was even convinced to form a circle around the entirety of the ballroom, kicking to "Friends in Low Places" and swaying to "Sweet Caroline." As the evening progressed, Anderson and Leeds sang Meghan Trainor in falsetto and rapped Vanilla Ice’s 1989 hit, "Ice, Ice Baby." 

“Our planning committee for the Extravaganza took a leap of faith this year and switched up the entertainment with Dueling Pianos,” said Hedemann. “The energy of the crowd and the high level of participation within the crowd throughout the event  tells me it was a fun time for all. A special thanks to all those who bought tickets and participated in the silent auction. Congratulations to our Extravaganza Committee, board members, parents and students who helped make the Extravaganza a success.”