John Mysliwiec
Music Director John Mysliwiec
John Mysliwiec grew up on a horse farm in rural Illinois and got his Bachelor of Science Degree in Vocal Music Education from UW-Platteville, Wisconsin. During that time he was a very active baritone church soloist and musical theatre performer. John has had the opportunity to conduct several of UW-Platteville’s elite choirs in concert. John was honored to sing the Alma Mater and National Anthem at his UW- Platteville graduation ceremony. After graduating, he began directing the choirs of Edgewood High school. After several years at Edgewood High School, John went to graduate school for special education at Edgewood College, feeling a calling to support students with special needs.
He is currently teaching for the Madison Public School System at West High School as a cross categorical special education teacher. In addition to directing the Männerchor, John also directs the Madison Yiddish Choir, a mixed ensemble dedicated to singing Jewish choral literature in Yiddish, Ladino, English and Hebrew.
“In Germany, the Nazis came for the Jews, but I was a Christian so I didn’t speak up. Then they came for the Communists, but I wasn’t a Communist so I didn’t speak up. Next they came for the Trade Unionists, but wasn’t a Trade Unionist so I didn’t speak up. Then the Catholics, but I was protestant, so I didn’t speak up. Then they came for me, and by that time there was nobody left to speak up for me.” Martin Niemoller- Lutheran pastor in Berlin sent to a concentration camp by the Nazis. The Allies freed him 3 years later.