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Platteville schools The Strange Night premieres Monday
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Wisconsin composer Heidi Joosten is the Composer-In-Residence for Platteville Public Schools’ sixth- through 12th-grade choirs, who will premiere her new choral piece Monday.

“The Strange Night” is inspired by the local mystery known as “The Nodolf Incident,” which took place near the Mound in the late 1800s.

Platteville High School vocal music teacher Amelia Armstrong received grant funding from the Wisconsin Arts Board and the Platteville Community Fund for the project.

Joosten is a 2014 graduate of UW–Eau Claire, and will graduate this May with a master’s degree in in composition from Roosevelt University in Chicago. Platteville Middle School vocal music teacher Marcia Russell taught with Joosten’s parents in the Cameron School District before moving to Platteville.

“The Nodolf Incident” is about a German farmer and his young wife, who discover their children outside at night in a driving storm. When brought inside, the children’s clothes are mysteriously dry, and the children cannot explain how they came to be in the yard.

In late September, Joosten spent two days in residency with sixth- through 12th-grade choir students. She attended choir rehearsals, hosted composer forums at Platteville Middle School and Platteville High School, and shared her inspiration and insight with students. 

Joosten will return to Platteville for two all-school assemblies on the morning of Oct. 26, and for the Fall Concert and premiere Monday at 7 p.m.

All events are free of charge and held in the Platteville High School Auditorium.

In partnership with this project, the Platteville Mining Museum will be hosting a Haunted Mine Tour event Friday, Oct. 30. This event will include a reading of “The Nodolf Incident” and other local ghost stories, and bring patrons down into the mine at night for a spooky tour. More information about this partner event can be found at http://mining.jamison.museum/