Holiday Mine Sing to Feature the Madison Maennechor and the Chough Singers of Mineral Point on Saturday, December 16

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — Join us on Saturday, December 16, for a beautiful evening of holiday choral music representing musical traditions of Germany and Cornwall — nations from which many of our region’s founders immigrated. The two-part concert includes two atmospheric spaces on the campus of The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums — the East Gallery around the 14-foot holiday tree, and the Bevans Mine 50 feet underground in the Museum back yard.

The evening begins with a traditional Christmas concert in the round circling the 14-foot holiday tree. The Madison Maennenchor will feature a selection of carols, both German and American. The Chough Singers will then introduce their musical set of Cornish tales and traditional music. After a short introductory performance above ground, the concert will migrate 50 feet underground into the Museum’s Bevans Mine for the remainder of the wonderful concert. The Chough Singers repertoire will include classic Cornish holiday favorites plus a selection of mining heritage songs.

The Madison Maennerchor was founded in 1852 by German immigrants. It is the oldest continuously operating German singing organization in Wisconsin and it is the second oldest in the United States. Their goal is the perpetuation of choral music, both German and American, German Culture, and Gemuetlichkeit — which means friendliness and geniality. They share these goals with others in our community through activities such as singing at nursing homes, folk festivals, church gatherings, and other ceremonies where their fun-loving, yet dedicated, singing enhances the ceremony.

The Chough Singers a cappella men’s chorus, founded in 2017, serve to preserve Cornish heritage and identity in the communities of the historic lead-zinc mining region of southwestern Wisconsin. They have performed for Cornish Festival at the Mineral Point Opera House, at The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums holiday mine sing, and at other community gatherings. In the words of Jim Harris, leader of the Choughs, “We are the Chough Singers, a few Cousin Jacks from Mineral Point way, an’ we will fill you full of Cornish tales, a few hof which may contain a nut hof truth. We hare seasoned performers has any back-way pub owner will tell ye, an our three- to seven-part harmony (depending on the quantity hof ’ard cider we ’ave) will amaze ye. So jest set back, cover yer hears an ’ide yer purses, an dream dreams hof the ’igh tides and low gals hof merry hold Cornwall!”

Advance registration is strongly encouraged. To register, visit the Programs and Special Events section of the Museum website at: www.mining.jamison.museum/programs or call (608) 348-3301. The Museum is located on Main Street in Platteville, Wisconsin, in the heart of the historic Upper Mississippi Valley lead-zinc mining region. Founded in 1964, the Museum is a nearly three-acre campus with scenic greenspace, an underground 1845 Bevans Mine, and a 1930s-era narrow-gauge mine railroad pulled by a 1931 Whitcomb locomotive. The mission of the Museum is to continue in the pursuit of excellence in the areas of regional and mining history. To achieve that purpose, the Museums are commissioned to be custodians of the past; to interpret the rich lead and zinc mining heritage of the region, as well as to preserve, interpret, and display the artifacts that define Southwest Wisconsin.

The Museum offers both in-person and virtual programming year-round, with general admission and guided tours May through October. Follow The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums on Facebook @MiningJamisonMuseum. For more information on current and upcoming programs visit our website at www.mining.jamison.museum, call (608) 348-3301, or email Museums@platteville.org.