Indianapolis Maennerchor

Indianapolis Maennerchor – Founded in 1854, the Maennerchor was the longest continuously running male chorus in the country. Although the chorus has changed its singing language of preference from German to English, the Maennerchor was a social and artistic institution that exemplified German-American camaraderie. Born out of small German singing parties in a third floor apartment of Eduard Longerich at 75 E. Washington, the group formed at a time when German population was spreading rapidly throughout the Midwest and newly arrived immigrants were looking for outlets that defined their cultural identity. Consisting of folk songs and classical selections, the first concert took place on May 28, 1855, at Washington Hall. After the Civil War, the organization became more classically oriented and even staged operatic performances, especially during the tenure of director Carl Barus (1882-1896). Throughout its existence, the group has twice hosted the Saengerfeste of the North American Saengerbund (a federation of male singing societies), in 1867 and 1908. From 1906 to 1933, wealthy financier John P. Frenzel supported the society and allowed the group to hire world-class guest performers such as Pablo Casals, Artur Schnabel, the Flonzaley Quartet, and Joseph Szigeti. Also during the Frenzel era, the chorus enjoyed singing in its own Maennerchor Hall (Academy of Music), which was located on North Illinois Street and included an auditorium, restaurant, and club rooms. In spite of the strong anti-German sentiment that pervaded the country after the rise of Nazism, the draft-depleted Maennerchor continued throughout WWII and grew to over 120 members shortly after the war’s end. Teamed up with the Knights of Columbus and the Murat Shrine Chanters, the chorus presented annual Triad concerts in effort to raise money for music scholarships at Clowes Hall from 1944 to 2002. In recent years, the Maennerchor experienced a decrease in membership and gave its last performance on May 30, 2018, at Victory Field, where they sang the national anthem for an Indians game. That performance marked the end of a group that sang at the first and last encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic during the Civil War as well as at the dedication and re-dedication of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument.