For those of you who may be interested, here is a link to the WSB Fall Concert Schedule for October 2015:
WSB Fall Concert Schedule
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Author Archives: Joe
Essen Haus Oktoberfest 2015
On Saturday September 12th we made our annual visit to the Essen Haus Oktoberfest. It was a beautiful day and the Badgers won their home opener and we had a great time as always. I’ve posted a few photos below; as always click on the small image to see the larger photo.
Essen Haus Oktoberfest 2015
We spent some time warming up before we sang.
Essen Haus Oktoberfest 2015
Nothing like a brat, sauerkraut and potato salad to give you the strength to get through a long Oktoberfest afternoon.
Essen Haus Oktoberfest 2015
It was a beautiful day in Madison: sunny but cool.
Essen Haus Oktoberfest 2015
There was a good crowd in the Essen Haus parking lot.
Essen Haus Oktoberfest 2015
After we sang, it was "Asbach Uralt time" once again
Essen Haus Oktoberfest 2015
Having two hands can be very convenient when it's Asbach Uralt time
Essen Haus Oktoberfest 2015
Still working on the Asbach
Essen Haus Oktoberfest 2015
But perhaps we really shouldn't consider it "work"...
Essen Haus Oktoberfest 2015
Still a few glasses left...
Essen Haus Oktoberfest 2015
The Dorf Kapelle starting playing a little after 4:00
Essen Haus Oktoberfest 2015
As always, they were amazing
Essen Haus Oktoberfest 2015
No, Ron did not empty all those glasses by himself 🙂
Cemetery Sing 2015
On Sunday August 30th we had our annual Cemetery Sing. We did things a little differently this year: we rented a bus, which made the logistics a lot easier and also took the opportunity to visit a few of our sponsors.
We started at Turner Hall, and then drove to the Spartan Bowl in McFarland. After warming up with a few songs and a drink or two, it was off to Roselawn Memorial in Monona. We sang a few songs in remembrance of Ernst Roth, Roger Attoe and the other friends who are buried here.
On our way to lunch, we stopped at Slice’s Bar & Grill for some refreshments. After a drink or tow, and a couple of songs we went on our way to Kavanaugh’s Esquire Club for lunch. We had bacon cheeseburgers and they were great!
Our next stop was Highland Memory Gardens. We sang two songs in memory of Pat Burke and Jerry Braier, who passed away this summer.
On our way back to Turner Hall, we stopped at the Great Dane Eastside, where we took the opportunity to sing a few songs and drink some more beer. Then it was time to head back to Turner Hall.
Here are some photos from the Cemetery Sing. As always, please click on the small image to see the larger photo.
At the Spartan Bowl
Our first stop was the Spartan Bowl in McFarland
At the Spartan Bowl
We had a good warm up...
At the Spartan Bowl
...and then it was time to hit the road
At the Spartan Bowl
The bus was just the right size for the group.
On the bus!
And it was very comfortable too.
Roselawn Memorial Park
We stopped at Roselawn Memorial Park
Roselawn Memorial Park
Paying our respects to our departed members at Roselawn
At Slice's Bar & Grill
Next stop: Slice's Bar & Grill
At Slice's Bar & Grill
We stopped for a drink (or two) and sang a few songs
At Slice's Bar & Grill
And then it was time to go
At Kavanaugh's Esquire Club
We had lunch at Kavanaugh's Esquire Club
At Kavanaugh's Esquire Club
Bacon cheeseburger, fries and Spaten Oktoberfest. Very good!
At Kavanaugh's Esquire Club
After lunch it was time to hit the road
Highland Memory Gardens
At Highland Memory Gardens, to pay our respects to our deceased members, especially Jerry who passed away this summer. He is greatly missed.
At the Great Dane Eastside
Our final stop was the Great Dane Eastside
At the Great Dane Eastside
Apparently they will let practically anybody in the door here 🙂
At the Great Dane Eastside
Oops, we need another pitcher!
At the Great Dane Eastside
And then it was time to head back to Turner Hall
Middleton Good Neighbor Fest 2015
After the race we made the usual stop at the beer tent to replenish fluids.
It’s been a couple of years since the last time we sang at the Middleton Good Neighbor Fest, but a couple of us take part in the 5 K race almost every year. This year we were once again just a single Tenor II short of having a quartet.
The race was on Saturday morning August 29th; the rain had stopped by race time, though it did sprinkle a little and there was enough mist that I was glad I remembered to wear my lucky rain hat. After the race, there was the traditional stop at the beer tent to “replenish fluids.” And we all got free peaches. I have no idea why they were giving away peaches, but I was happy to take one.
Charleston House 2015
On Thursday June 25th we traveled to Beaver Dam to sing at the Charleston House. We’ve sung there a number of times in the past, but this was the first time we sang there outdoors – of course it was also the first time we had been there in the summer. some of the sections were a little shorthanded but we seemed to do ok. Afterward we headed down the street to John’s for some beer and more singing.
Here are some photos from Beaver Dam. As always, click on the small image to see a larger version of the picture.
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- We warmed up in the large room at the Charleston House. We’ve performed in this room on earlier visits.
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- Not warming up so much at this point, more just milling around
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- Two thumbs up from Greg, so we’re ready to sing. We think.
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- Garrett appears to have been abandoned by the choir…no it’s the intermission
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- Some say “intermission”, some say “Bier Pause”…
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- Victory cookies to celebrate the Kommers win. Thanks Sharon!
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- A stop at John’s after the concert to sing a little and enjoy a traditional German beverage
Translating Seinfeld into German
Saengerfest 2015
The WSB Saengerfest was held at the Schwabenhof in Menomonee Falls on Sunday June 21st. It was a great day to be outside and celebrate our unexpected victory at Kommers.
Here are some photos. As always, click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.
Saengerfest 2015
Still hard to believe that we won Kommers, but the trophy is sitting on our table
Saengerfest 2015
It was a beautiful day at the Schwabenhof
Saengerfest 2015
The WSB combined choirs getting ready to sing
Saengerfest 2015
The WSB First Vice President awarding the trophy to the MMC President
Saengerfest 2015
Bill made a short speech. I don't remember much of his speech other than the use of the word "surprised."
Saengerfest 2015
A basses eye view of the choir
Saengerfest 2015
The choir in action
Saengerfest 2015
Afterward there was food and traditional German beverages
Saengerfest 2015
Saengerfest 2015
Around 2:00 the Milwaukee Spielmannszug began the Fathers Day festivities
Saengerfest 2015
And there were dancers and children in traditional costumes
Saengerfest 2015
Saengerfest 2015
A very nice afternoon indeed
Kommers 2015
The annual Wisconsin Saengerbezirk Kommers and Saengerfest was held in Milwaukee on June 20th and 21st. The host choir was the Milwaukee DANK Chor.
These are my pictures from Kommers on Saturday June 20, 2015. We sang in the Muellner Building in Hart Park in Wauwatosa. As always, click on the thumbnail image to see the larger photo.
Oh, in case you were wondering, we actually came in first place. So the traveling trophy will be back in our trophy case for the next year.
Kommers 2015
Arrived at Hart Park in Wauwatosa on Saturday
Kommers 2015
We were supposed to be here at 10:30 am...the bar wasn't even open yet
Kommers 2015
A few of the guys were there
Kommers 2015
Someone remembered to wear his lucky Norwegian flag socks
Kommers 2015
The hall slowly began to fill up
Kommers 2015
Garrett led the warm up just before noon
Kommers 2015
We still had plenty of time to kill...
Kommers 2015
The procession of the flags
Kommers 2015
Greg was our Fahnentraeger
Kommers 2015
We sang the national anthems. Let the competition begin!
Kommers 2015
Milwaukee Liederkranz
Kommers 2015
MGV Harmonia Kenosha
Kommers 2015
Gesangverein Concordia Sheboygan
Kommers 2015
Milwaukee Damenchor
Kommers 2015
Milwaukee D.A.N.K. Chor
Kommers 2015
Schwaben Maennerchor
Kommers 2015
Milwaukee Liedertafel
Kommers 2015
A leftover sandwich from lunch. It was tightly wrapped to prevent the liquid cheese from escaping.
Kommers 2015
Rehearsal for the concert on Sunday
Kommers 2015
The choir flags and the WSB Kommers traveling trophy
Spring Concert 2015
We had our 163rd Spring concert on Saturday May 2, 2015 at Turner Hall. Below are some pictures from the concert; thanks to Dorothy Hermann for some of the photos.
We did record the concert, click here to access the recordings of the songs. Thanks to Eric for doing this!
Spring Concert 2015
The setup crew putting the risers together
Spring Concert 2015
The sandwich team at work
Spring Concert 2015
Putting the finishing touches on another tray of sandwiches
Spring Concert 2015
The hall is ready!
Spring Concert 2015
Warming up before the concert
Spring Concert 2015
At intermission...
Spring Concert 2015
...some accordion music. They accompanied us on two songs in the second half of the concert
Spring Concert 2015
Packer socks in honor of the NFL Draft day
Spring Concert 2015
The choir in action
Spring Concert 2015
Singing "Wiedersehen" with former member Paul Hermann
Spring Concert 2015
Greg is hard at work keeping the sandwich line orderly
Spring Concert 2015
Spring Concert 2015
Spring Concert 2015
Spring Concert 2015
Spring Concert 2015
Paul Hermann, Mel and Walter - the program is from the MMC Centennial Concert in 1952
Spring Concert 2015
Spring Concert 2015
Spring Concert 2015
Visitors from Canada, Part 2
Paul and Dorothy Hermann came to our rehearsal again on April 30th – they made another trip to Madison for our Spring Concert on May 2. Here are some photos from Dorothy:
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- We rehearsed in the banquet hall
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- We rehearsed facing the wall – not a very exciting view of the choir!
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- Paul and Walter
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- Paul and Walter
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- Having “refreshments” after rehearsal
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- Paul, Dorothy, Jerry, Werner and Walter
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- Paul, Dorothy, Jerry, Werner, Walter, Mel and Dick