On November 5, 2017 we traveled to Monroe to sing as a guest choir at the 51st Annual Swissfest. the event was held at Turner Hall in Monroe and included the Monroe Swiss Singers, the Maennerchor New Glarus and the Jodlerklub New Glarus.

It was a great event and I think we had a great time both performing and listening to the other choirs and other performers. The acoustics in the Grand Hall were great. Afterward, we headed downstairs to the Ratskeller for some refreshments.

Here are some photos; as always, click on the thumbnail to see the larger image.

Swissfest 2017

Swissfest was held at Turner Hall in Monroe

Swissfest 2017

The Grand Hall has really nice acoustics.

Swissfest 2017

The Monroe Swiss Singers opened Swissfest with four songs, each in one of the Swiss official languages.

Swissfest 2017

Maennerchor New Glarus

Swissfest 2017

Jodlerklub New Glarus

Swissfest 2017

Mandatory sock photo - it was still close enough to Halloween to wear these socks 🙂

Swissfest 2017

Getting ready backstage before we sang.

Swissfest 2017

The Monroe Swiss Singers closed out the festivities with another set. We then adjourned to the Ratskeller for refreshments.

Swissfest 2017

Time for a quick walk around the Courthouse Square before heading for home.

We’ve received two more photos of the Capitol concert from Geoff Kroening:

To: Wisconsin Sängerbezirk Presidents, Secretaries and others

Attached are two pictures of the WSB Chöre performing in the State Capitol Rotunda.  Margot Paap’s son-in-law took these photos and Margot gave me professionally printed images which I scanned for electronic posting on the Milwaukee Liederkranz facebook page.  The scanned images from the vivid color prints turned out well and I thought I would share them via email to all the WSB clubs.  Please forward and share them with your singers.

The photos are below – click on the image for a larger version of the photo. I’ve also shared the Milwaukee Liederkranz Facebook photo gallery on our own Facebook page.

WSB Saengerfest 2014

The combined choirs of the WSB performing in the Capitol Rotunda on June 22, 2014

WSB Saengerfest 2014

The combined choirs of the WSB performing in the Capitol Rotunda on June 22, 2014

Recordings from the WSB Sängerfest Capitol Concert on Sunday June 22, 2014 are now available online. Click here and you should see a folder on our Google Drive with all of the mp3 files – one for each song. You can play them over the web, or download them to your computer.

Thanks to Eric for making these available!

We concluded Kommers / Saengerfest 2014 by performing a short concert in the Capitol Rotunda. Afterward, we headed over to the Essen Haus to enjoy some beer, brats and music. Thankfully this all occurred before the rain returned.

Here are some pictures – as always, click on the image to see a larger version of the photo.

Sock photo

Here are my summer sort-of-dark socks

Capitol

We sang in the Capitol Rotunda. The statue is a memorial to Colonel Hans Christian Heg who was born in Norway and was killed in action at the battle of Chickamauga in 1863.

Capitol Concert

For some unknown reason we actually started promptly at noon. We should never let this happen again.

Capitol Concert

The acoustics in the Capitol make it an interesting place to sing.

Capitol Concert

The women sang first

Capitol Concert

Capitol Concert

Capitol Concert

John directing the women singers

Happy Birthday

After the combined choirs sang, we sang happy birthday to John.

John

John is stepping down as director of the Madison Maennerchor. Our president Dick presented John with a plaque thanking him for his many years of directing the choir.

Kommers

The winner of the competition was announced: Milwaukee Liederkranz

Milwaukee Liederkranz

Milwaukee Liederkranz performing in the capitol

Essen Haus

Afterward, we adjourned to the Essen Haus for some refreshments: beer, brats and music

Essen Haus

Essen Haus

Tim challenged Liederkranz to a volleyball game, but they said something about having to get back to Milwaukee...

Essen Haus

Hat photo

Here's a hat photo in case you were getting tired of all the sock pictures.

And in the end...

...as Kommers / Saengerfest wraps up for 2014, Auf Wiedersehen from Madison!

After the morning’s competition and dinner, there was a short rehearsal for the evening concert (and the Sunday concert at the Capitol) and then some free time; the amount of free time depending on whether you had signed up to make sandwiches or not.

In the evening the combined choirs sang a few song, ate some sandwiches and had a dance.

Click on the images below to see a larger version of the photo.

Rehearsal

After dinner, there was a short rehearsal for the evening concert

Rehearsal

Making sandwiches

A dedicated crew made the sandwiches for the evening concert

Making sandwiches

Not even halfway done at this point...

Making sandwiches

Evening concert

The women sang first

Evening concert

Women singers

Evening concert

Yet another sock photo

For the evening concert it was dark pants and a white shirt, and these were the only socks I had that matched both.

Evening concert

The combined choirs sing a few songs together

Evening concert

Evening Concert

A bass's eye view of John conducting the combined choirs

Sandwich time

Almost ready to serve the assembled masses

Sandwich time

The Kommers trophy is in the background - if they gave a trophy for sandwiches...

Sandwich time

Sandwich time

The sandwiches were very popular

Dance

We finished the evening with a dance. The Polka Kings performed.

Sandwich time

After everyone was served, we still had some sandwiches left

Dance

Dance

The Kommers competition for 2014 was held on Saturday June 21 at Madison Turner Hall. The competition began at 11:00; seven choirs performed – the Schwaben Maennerchor and Milwaukee Liedertafel performed together.

After the performances, we had a catered dinner.

Here are some photos – click on the image to see a larger version.

The Kommers traveling trophy

Who will win the competition in 2014?

Madison Turner Hall

Getting ready for the competition

Madison Turner Hall

At the welcome desk in the banquet hall

Traditional uniform sock photo

Well, they are dark socks, and it is the *Wisconsin* Saengerbezirk Kommers...

Madison Turner Hall

Just before the competition

MGV Harmonia Kenosha

Madison Turner Hall

Milwaukee Liederkranz is performing

Milwaukee Liederkranz

Madison Maennerchor

Getting ready to perform

Gesangverein Concordia Sheboygan

Replenishing fluids

Singing is thirsty work...

Milwaukee D.A.N.K. Chor

Milwaukee Damenchor

Schwaben Maennerchor & Milwaukee Liedertafel

Dinner buffet

Dinner buffet

Dessert table

cake from Clasen's Bakery

Dinner

Sauerbraten, red cabbage, mashed potatoes, spaetzle, spinach and gravy. Oh, and some sort of salad thing...

Dinner was enjoyed by all

Dinner

After dinner and dessert there was time to talk and replenish fluids as needed.