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The Milton House Museum’s Signature Event is our premier annual fundraiser, bringing the community together to celebrate and support our mission. Each year features a unique experience, designed to engage audiences while raising essential funds for the museum’s ongoing operation and preservation.
The 2026 Milton House Museum Signature Event will take place on September 26, 2026, at the Janesville Performing Arts Center in Janesville. This special evening will feature an opening performance by Ko-Thi Dance Company of Milwaukee, followed by a main performance from the renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers of Fisk University in Tennessee. The museum is proud to bring these exceptional performers to the community for an unforgettable night celebrating history, culture, and the arts.
Tickets on sale now!
VIP Tickets
VIP tickets offer an enhanced evening experience during the event.
VIP guests will enjoy a special pre-concert reception with light refreshments and drink tickets, reserved premium seating for the performance, and exclusive pre- and post-show experiences with the performers.
General Admission Tickets
General admission tickets include admission to the show featuring performances by the acclaimed Ko Thi Dance Company and the Grammy Award-winning Fisk Jubilee Singers at the Janesville Performing Arts Center.
Become a Signature Event Sponsor Today!
Co-Presenting Sponsorship $5,000
Heritage Sponsorship $1,000
Freedom Sponsorship $2,500
2 of 2 available
Benefits:
Exclusive VIP Experience & Premier Seating
- Eight (8) VIP passes to the pre-concert reception with light refreshments
- Eight (8) complimentary drink tickets during reception
- VIP exclusive pre and post-show experience with concert performers (exact details TBD)
- Reserved front-row or premium center seating
Marketing & Recognition
- Exclusive “Co-Presenting Sponsor” recognition on all promotional materials
- Complimentary full page ad in digital event program
- Digital recognition on JPAC lobby TV during the event
- Verbal recognition from the stage
- AND MORE
*For a full listing of sponsor benefits, please see our sponsorship form
Freedom Sponsorship $2,500
Heritage Sponsorship $1,000
Freedom Sponsorship $2,500
2 of 3 available
Benefits:
VIP Experience & Preferred Seating
- Four (4) VIP passes to the pre-concert reception with light refreshments
- Four (4) complimentary drink tickets during reception
- VIP exclusive pre- and post-show experience with concert performers (exact details TBD)
- Reserved premium seating section
Marketing & Recognition
- Logo included in digital event marketing
- Complimentary 1/3 page ad in digital event program
- Digital recognition on JPAC lobby TV
- Verbal recognition from the stage
- AND MORE
*For a full listing of sponsor benefits, please see our sponsorship form
Heritage Sponsorship $1,000
Heritage Sponsorship $1,000
Heritage Sponsorship $1,000
2 of 5 available
Benefits:
Event Experience & Preferred Seating
- Two (2) VIP passes to the pre-concert reception with food
- Two (2) complimentary drink tickets during reception
- VIP exclusive pre- and post-show experience with concert performers (exact details TBD)
- Reserved seating (priority over general admission)
Marketing & Recognition
- Logo placement on event website sponsor page
- Digital recognition on JPAC lobby TV
- Logo listed as sponsor in digital event program
- AND MORE
*For a full listing of sponsor benefits, please see our sponsorship form
Freedom Sponsors
Friends of the Milton House Museum
The Milton House Museum is honored to recognize the Friends of the Milton House Museum as a Freedom Sponsor of our 2026 Signature Event.
The Friends are dedicated supporters of our mission, providing generous financial contributions while also volunteering countless hours and sharing their talents to help preserve and promote the Milton H
The Milton House Museum is honored to recognize the Friends of the Milton House Museum as a Freedom Sponsor of our 2026 Signature Event.
The Friends are dedicated supporters of our mission, providing generous financial contributions while also volunteering countless hours and sharing their talents to help preserve and promote the Milton House Museum. From assisting with special events and educational programs to supporting preservation projects and daily operations, their commitment makes a lasting impact on our organization.
We are deeply grateful for the Friends' unwavering dedication and generous support of our 2026 Signature Event and the continued preservation of this National Historic Landmark.
Heritage Sponsors
JP Cullen
Paul Benson Law Firm
Paul Benson Law Firm
The Milton House Museum is proud to recognize JP Cullen as a Heritage Sponsor of our 2026 Signature Event.
Founded in 1892 and headquartered in Janesville, Wisconsin, JP Cullen is a fifth-generation, family-owned construction company with more than 130 years of experience building and restoring some of the region's most significant commer
The Milton House Museum is proud to recognize JP Cullen as a Heritage Sponsor of our 2026 Signature Event.
Founded in 1892 and headquartered in Janesville, Wisconsin, JP Cullen is a fifth-generation, family-owned construction company with more than 130 years of experience building and restoring some of the region's most significant commercial, educational, healthcare, industrial, and historic landmarks. Their longstanding commitment to quality craftsmanship, community, and historic preservation makes them an ideal partner in helping preserve the stories of the Milton House Museum for future generations.
We are grateful for JP Cullen's generous support of our mission and our 2026 Signature Event.
Paul Benson Law Firm
Paul Benson Law Firm
Paul Benson Law Firm
The Milton House Museum is proud to recognize Paul Benson Law Firm as a Heritage Sponsor of our 2026 Signature Event.
Based in Janesville, Wisconsin, Paul Benson Law Firm has built a reputation for providing trusted legal representation with a personalized approach, serving individuals, families, and businesses throughout the region. Thei
The Milton House Museum is proud to recognize Paul Benson Law Firm as a Heritage Sponsor of our 2026 Signature Event.
Based in Janesville, Wisconsin, Paul Benson Law Firm has built a reputation for providing trusted legal representation with a personalized approach, serving individuals, families, and businesses throughout the region. Their commitment to supporting local organizations and strengthening the community reflects the values at the heart of the Milton House Museum's mission.
We are sincerely grateful for Paul Benson Law Firm's generous support in helping preserve our shared history and make our 2026 Signature Event a success.
Dave and Lori Warren
Paul Benson Law Firm
Dave and Lori Warren
The Milton House Museum is proud to recognize Dave and Lori Warren as Heritage Sponsors of our 2026 Signature Event.
As longtime supporters of the Milton House Museum, Dave and Lori have demonstrated an enduring commitment to preserving the rich history of our community. Their generosity and steadfast encouragement have helped advance our
The Milton House Museum is proud to recognize Dave and Lori Warren as Heritage Sponsors of our 2026 Signature Event.
As longtime supporters of the Milton House Museum, Dave and Lori have demonstrated an enduring commitment to preserving the rich history of our community. Their generosity and steadfast encouragement have helped advance our mission to educate, inspire, and preserve this National Historic Landmark for future generations.
We are sincerely grateful for Dave and Lori's continued support and for their investment in the success of our 2026 Signature Event.
In Kind Sponsors
Charcuterie for VIP Area
The Milton House Museum is grateful to recognize DILLICIOUS Boards as an In-Kind Sponsor of our 2026 Signature Event.
Based in Milton, Wisconsin, DILLICIOUS Boards specializes in beautifully crafted charcuterie boards and grazing tables, featuring fresh, high-quality ingredients that bring people together for every occasion. Their genero
The Milton House Museum is grateful to recognize DILLICIOUS Boards as an In-Kind Sponsor of our 2026 Signature Event.
Based in Milton, Wisconsin, DILLICIOUS Boards specializes in beautifully crafted charcuterie boards and grazing tables, featuring fresh, high-quality ingredients that bring people together for every occasion. Their generous support will help create a memorable experience for our guests by providing an elegant charcuterie spread for the VIP reception during this year's Signature Event.
We sincerely appreciate DILLICIOUS Boards for sharing their creativity, hospitality, and community spirit in support of the Milton House Museum.
Introducing the Fisk Jubilee Singers of Fisk University
Fisk University
Fisk University opened in Nashville in 1866 as the first American university to offer a liberal arts education to “young men and women irrespective of color.” The school became a leading institution for Black higher education, emphasizing academic excellence, teacher training, and the advancement of African American culture and leadership.
Today, Fisk University is a small but highly regarded historically Black liberal arts institution in Nashville, known for its strong emphasis on academic excellence, social justice, and close-knit community. The university continues to build on its historic legacy by fostering leadership, research, and community engagement while preparing students to make meaningful contributions in a global society.
Founding of Fisk Jubilee Singers in 1871
Just five years after Fisk University opened, the school faced serious financial challenges. In response, treasurer and music professor George L. White formed a small choral group of nine students and took them on tour to raise funds for the institution.
Their early performances in small towns were met with curiosity, and at times hostility, as audiences were unaccustomed to Black performers who did not conform to minstrel traditions.
By the time they reached Columbus, the group was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. In a moment of encouragement, White gave them the name “Jubilee Singers,” inspired by the Biblical year of Jubilee.
Through perseverance and the power of their voices, the singers gradually won over audiences, transforming skepticism into admiration. Their growing success not only brought critical acclaim but also generated vital funds that helped sustain Fisk University.
Jubilee Hall
In 1872 they sang at the World Peace Festival in Boston and at the end of the year President Ulysses S. Grant invited them to perform at the White House. In 1873 the group grew to eleven members and toured Europe for the first time. Funds raised that year were used to construct the school’s first permanent building, Jubilee Hall.
Today Jubilee Hall, designated a National Historic Landmark by the US Department of Interior in 1975, is one of the oldest structures on campus. The beautiful Victorian Gothic building houses a floor-to-ceiling portrait of the original Jubilee Singers, commissioned by Queen Victoria during the 1873 tour as a gift from England to Fisk.
Fisk Jubilee Singers Today
Today, the Fisk Jubilee Singers continue their legacy as one of the world’s most celebrated choral groups, representing Fisk University on national and international stages.
Known for their powerful performances of spirituals and other sacred music, the ensemble remains dedicated to preserving this important musical tradition while also showcasing a diverse repertoire.
Through tours, recordings, and special appearances, the Jubilee Singers carry forward their historic mission—using music to inspire audiences and support the ongoing work of the university.
Grammy Award Winning Group
In 2021, the Fisk Jubilee Singers earned their first Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album for their recording Celebrating Fisk! (The 150th Anniversary Album).
This achievement marked a historic milestone for the ensemble, honoring both their musical excellence and their enduring role in preserving and performing the tradition of the Negro spiritual.
The award brought renewed national attention to their legacy and highlighted their continued impact more than 150 years after their founding at Fisk University.
Introducing Ko Thi Dance Company
Founding of Ko Thi Dance Company
Ko-Thi Dance Company is a Milwaukee-based ensemble dedicated to preserving and performing the traditional music and dance of the African diaspora. Founded in 1969 by Ferne Caulker, the company blends cultural education with dynamic performances that celebrate African, Caribbean, and African American heritage.
Ko Thi Dance Company Today
Through school programs, community engagement, and stage performances, Ko-Thi Dance Company continues to share stories of history, resilience, and cultural pride, connecting audiences to the rich traditions that shape the African diaspora.
