The UW–Platteville Sigma Alpha Iota and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia women’s and men’s music fraternities are holding a spaghetti supper fundraiser in the lower level of First English Lutheran Church, 215 W. Pine St., Friday, March 8 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Funds raised will help purchase a five-octave marimba, a wooden keyed instrument that is similar to a xylophone, for student use at UW–Platteville.

“This marimba is very integral in the education of not only percussion majors, but percussionists in the various ensembles at the university as well,” said Rachael McWilliams, SAI treasurer, Platteville resident, and UW–Platteville industrial engineering major with a minor in mathematics and emphasis in management systems.

Keith Lienert, percussion instructor at UW–Platteville who is pursuing his doctorate at UW–Madison, said he is very grateful for the efforts of the two music fraternities in helping to raise funds for this instrument.

“So much of the marimba literature written over the last 30 years was composed with the five-octave range in mind,” said Lienert. “Five-octave marimbas are a staple in the university percussionists’ arsenal. Many of the other UW campuses around the state own two or three of these large instruments for practice, teaching and performance.”

Emily Hackl, a UW–Platteville choral music education major from Fond du Lac, and the music director for SAI, said the five-octave marimba they would like to purchase is about $16,000. The goal of SAI and PMAS is to raise half the purchase price; the UW–Platteville Department of Performing and Visual Arts will cover the remaining amount.

Advance tickets for the event are $3 for children and $7 for adults and can be purchased by contacting Hackl, hackle@uwplatt.edu, or McWilliams, mcwilliamsr@uwplatt.edu. Tickets purchased at the door are $4 for children and $8 for adults.

“Pre-sales are not only a great way to get a dollar discount, but will help us ensure we have enough food,” said McWilliams.