A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UTICA MAENNERCHOR

The Utica Maennerchor was founded on January 5, 1865 at Bierbauers Brewery, the forerunner of today's F.X. Matt Brewing Company, by 13 charter members: John Geiersbach, Edward Gerbhardt, Fred Heim, John C. Hieber, Charles C. Hornung, John Kohler, Reinhardt Muehlich, William Reichaert, Fred J . Schmidt, John C Schreiber, John Stocker, Nicholas Treibel and Henry Weber. Fred J . Shmidt served as its first President and Rev. G. Leonard Rietz as first conductor. The Chorus made its first public appearance in April at a ball. On April 26, 1865 they sang at Union Station as President Abraham Lincoln's funeral train passed through Utica from Washington to Illinois. That same year saw the earliest "Sängerfest" or singing competition between the Utica Maennerchor and the Syracuse Liederkranz. It became a non-profit corporation in 1874 and has represented a fine tradition of German language choral singing that has been part of Mohawk Valley's cultural heritage. They met and rehearsed at several locations until 1892. Through the efforts of charter member John C. Schreiber, the "familiar" Maennerchor Hall was built at 323 Columbia Street (rebuilt in 1903 after a fire); it was home for 71 years. Due to the city's progress, it was forced move to 10 Auert Ave in 1963 and moved again in 1985 to our current location on Flanagan Road in Marcy.

John C. Schreiber took a leading part in starting the Central NY Sängerbund in 1897 and was its first president. The first Sängerfest, under the new organization, was in Utica that year and the tradition of a competition every 3 years had begun. Throughout the years it has hosted many successful Sängerfests. In 1980 the 25th and final Sängerfest of the Central New York Sängerbund was held in Utica. In September of 1980 the men and ladies organizations united to become the New York State Sängerbund. The Sängerfest competition continued every 3 years with the addition of Mixed and Ladies' chorus competition. Both Men's and Ladies Choruses have received several Trophies over the years.

The auxiliary was first formally organized in 1896 as the "Unter Uns". In 1938 the Ladies Chorus was established and has just passed its 70-year milestone. Our dancers, the Edelweiss Schuhplattlers, were formed in 1976 and represent us throughout the Eastern US and Canada. Utica Maennerchor has contributed much to Utica's cultural and social life. The Baron Von Steuben memorials in Remsen and on the Parkway in Utica owe much to the efforts of Maennerchor members. We encourage the teaching of the German language by offering scholarships to students in participating area high schools; these scholarships are named "Eric Kresse Student Scholarship Awards" in memory of Eric Kresse, the founder of Student Night.

In 2003 the members voted to make the Utica Maennerchor membership include male and female members with equal rights.

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