In the Spotlight | David Piper

In our mission to support Central Cass students in the arts, our “In the Spotlight” series aims to showcase alumni deserving recognition.

David Piper | Central Cass Class of 1973
Community Musician & Music Enthusiast

A wall in David Piper’s office at Piper Tax Services, Inc. adorns the plaques ‘Fine Arts Booster of the Year’ and 'Bradley Burgum Community Service Award.’ While David Piper has a lengthy list of career and life successes and recognition, he openly celebrates and gives accolades to his colleagues and members of the community who have guided his achievements.

Piper, a 1973 Central Cass graduate, is a master bass vocalist who has sung in hundreds of funerals, weddings, anniversaries and at other community events. One of his favorite performances, “One Pair of Hands,” has had over 7,000 hits on his YouTube site, TheMrPipes. He also enjoys singing “The Lord’s Prayer” and “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford.

David credits Larry Hegvik, his high school band and choir teacher, for the encouragement to pursue his vocal talent. Although, he had a musical background as a child—singing at various functions with his sisters, learning to harmonize as a 6th grader and playing the trombone in 4th grade, it was Larry who prompted him to hone in on the vocals by performing at the state high school music contest. He did very well—a start to earning many star ratings throughout his high school career. In addition to jazz, concert, and marching bands, David participated in the ‘Pop Swingers’ along with classmates Fred Wittman, Robin Claus, Marty Baumler, Mary Kay Sinner, Tom Sinner, Dale McDougall, Steve Runck and several others.

When Piper was a high school junior, Hegvik was looking for music for a Memorial Day service. David, Fred Wittman, Robin Claus and Marty Sinner formed a mixed quartet and performed The National Anthem, America the Beautiful and My Buddy, a piece still sung today. After college, David continued to return to the Memorial Day service with “The Group”— Joan Kieffer (soprano), Greg Bakke (tenor), Melanie Moos (alto) and David (bass), and since 1978 – 40 years later, David continues to arrange the cemetery service. “The Group” has converted to mostly a men’s group—Barry Heck, Doug Moderow, John Deutsch, Bill Dittmer, Tom Sinner, Tom Roach and Chelsea Yokum Wood. “I enjoy participating in the Memorial Day services. It’s a good cause — supporting the people who have defended our country all of these years.”

While a college student at Valley City State University, David was involved in a singers’ group, jazz band, concert band, marching band and concert choir. He also took three and a half years of voice lessons. As a sophomore, David was asked by his choir director, John Reed, to perform as the main soloist for ‘Elijah,’ by Mendelssohn, in the Christmas concert. This was quite an honor for David, as it was usually a senior music major who would perform the complex music pieces. As a junior, he recalls memorizing 45 minutes of vocals in four different languages for an opera contest. He admits that it was a lot of work! David graduated from Valley City State University in 1977 with a business major and music minor.

After graduating, Piper worked with Dan Madsen at H&R Block and later purchased the business—renaming it Casselton Business Services. In 1992, it became Piper Tax Services, Inc. David prepares taxes in the winter months and has farmed during the summer months since 1975. In 2023, David sold his tax business to Jami Verkuehlen, but continues to work full-time.

David’s love and passion for music shines when he shares his experiences. “It was Mitzi Moos, a local piano teacher, who encouraged me to get involved. It was Mitzi who taught me how to direct and organize,” and this is exactly what David does every July at the Casselton Summerfest Variety Show. The first choir of the Community Days Variety Show, now called the Summerfest Variety Show, consisted of Mitzi and Melanie Moos, Carl Peterson, Joan Kieffer, Kathy Wagner, Dan Baumler, Doug Moderow and Mike Faught — later adding Wanda Mangin, Brianna Gohdes Stock, Josh Mangin and many others. David finds joy in getting people involved in a community choir.

“There is so much talent out there, and I love finding ways to encourage people, help them build their courage and have them share their many talents with the community.”

Piper has an extensive repertoire of choral experiences. He sang in the mass choirs for the Billy Graham and the Luis Palau crusades. He sang in a 16 voice choir for the Emmanuel concert at the Fargodome as a backup singer for Twyla Paris, Sheena Walsh, Cindy Morgan, Larnell Harris, and Bob Carlisle (famous for ‘Butterfly Kisses’) —a concert with 8,000 in attendance. In addition, Piper has performed for a number of years in Arthur Hall at the Bonanzaville Pioneer Days each August.

There aren’t many people that can say they’ve performed in the local Easter Cantada for 44 years. David has sung in all cantatas available since 1973, under the directors Eileen McLean, Peter Schiefelbein and Sue Knoll.

David also performs in the ‘We’re in the Christmas Mood,” directed by John Monilaws. He has sung in the show of 24 straight years out of the 27 years of existence, and sings the finale in each show. The newly-renovated Nome Schoolhouse was the recent venue for this annual holiday performance.

“One of my greatest joys is singing with my daughters,” says David. For the past 20 years, there has been a Piper family performance at the Christmas Eve program at the Goshen Moravian Church in rural Durbin. David and his daughters, Allison, Rachel and Megan, perform some kind of special number. While his wife, Marie, does sing, David jokingly admits that no one can hear her when she sings next to him.

Piper believes, “All parents miss the boat when they don’t give their children the opportunity to take piano lessons, as it’s the basic foundation of music. It teaches how to read music and learn about rhythm.” David expresses a deep gratitude to his many accompanists through the years, his background music — Alicia Wisnewski, Pearl Radloff, Valois McConnell, Dorthea Hans, Carol Schatzke, Carl Peterson, Mitzi Moos, Dorothy Gust, Lucille Kingsley and Malinda Lindstrom. Marlys Giermann was David’s piano teacher from 2nd to 6th grade.

Piper’s message to middle and high school youth? “Students should join choir and stay in choir through high school whether you like it or not. You can always use your voice in a local or community choir. Whether you pursue music professionally or not is another thing, but you can always be involved in community music.”

When David is not performing, preparing taxes or farming, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Marie, and his growing family and grandkids at Star Lake. He has nine grandchildren, with two more on the way.

Thanks for sharing your story, David!

“In the Spotlight” features Central Cass alum who have excelled in the arts. Do you know a squirrel deserving recognition? Nominate them here!