This guy Seth Mulder should know something about playing the fiddle. He has, after all, been playing it half his life.
Let's see -- that figures out to be six years.
Because Seth is 12. And he's already a seasoned entertainer. He'll perform any season of the year. And he has, many many times.
Seth is the son of Nayva Mulder of Cummings, N.D. (And before "X-Files" fans ask, no, he is not related to the Mulder character on that TV show.)
He is a multi-talented young guy. He paints. He raises horses. He has a black belt in the martial arts. And he plays the guitar. And the piano. And the violin.
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Especially the violin.
But he plays it fiddle-style. And he sings. And yodels. And entertains. Boy, does this kid entertain.
He has appeared in more than 30 area nursing and retirement homes, playing and singing gospel, country, bluegrass.
The folks love it.
"The residents request he come back every month," says Cindy Hejl, volunteer coordinator for the Good Samaritan Home in Arthur, N.D. "They and the staff look forward to his performances."
"You are a talented young man that truly has a future in music," Tory Magnusson, activity director of Riverview Place in Fargo, wrote Seth. "We loved your Irish songs. Please come back again."
Seth has gone over to his Cummings neighbors to play for them, one of whom is disabled.
"He plays for anyone who will listen," his mother says. "He enjoys putting smiles on people's faces. It makes him feel good because he brightened their day."
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Seth is being home-schooled, primarily by his grandfather, and is thriving on it.
And on entertaining.
He wants to be a professional entertainer some day. The fact is, at age 12, he's on his way. He already has his own business card, billing himself as "The Singing Fiddler."
People in Halstad, Minn., Casselton, N.D., Hatton, N.D., and Northwood, N.D., are among those who have heard him perform. He's also given performances in Green Valley, Ariz.
Does he get stage fright? Are you kidding? In Seth's view, the more people he can play for, the better. He eats it up.
"His ambition," his proud mother says, "is to be kind to people through his music. He simply enjoys sharing his musical abilities."
She says he never fails to "generate grins, applause and merriment" when he performs at nursing and retirement homes.
In terms of popularity, it seems young Seth Mulder, "The Singing Fiddler," even beats out bingo.
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If you have an item of interest for this column, mail it to Neighbors, The Forum, Box 2020, Fargo, ND 58107; fax it to (701) 241-5487; or e-mail rlind@forumcomm.com
