Concordia Men's Chorus & Sängerfest

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 On September 28, the German Choirs of Fredericksburg host the annual Sängerfest (Singers' Festival). In relation to that, we are going to post some history-related notes regarding the Texanisher Gebirgs Sängerbund (Texas State Association of German singing societies), past Sängerfest events, and German Choirs of Fredericksburg, Texas.

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The first post of the series is dedicated to "Concordia", one of the oldest (non-church related) choirs (the first men's choir) of Fredericksburg, Texas. The Men's Chorus "Concordia" was organized on November 30, 1880.
Its first officers were:
President: Ed. Maier,
Secretary: Robert Fresenius,
Secretary: Treasurer: F. Koeppen,
Director: Julius Hansen 

March 18, 1881 - "Concordia" had 13 members. On that day, the choir became part of the Texas Choral Society.

"Concordia" was the host of  Sängerfest (Singers' Festival) in 1882, 1890, and 1895. 

Clipping source: Hanschke, Robert. Freie Presse für Texas. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 2559, Ed. 1 Tuesday, September 23, 1890, newspaper, September 23, 1890; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1082186/: accessed May 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

1890 - other Fredericksburg choirs which took part in the Festival, besides "Concordia", were the mixed choirs "Harmonie" and "Echo".

The names of the three choirs' members were mentioned in the newspaper announcement regarding the event.

Clipping source: as given above
 
The guest choirs - participants of the 18th Sängerfest - came to Fredericksburg from Comfort, Sisterdale, Luckenbach, New Braunfels, Boerne, and Twin Sisters.
 
 
Clipping source: as given above
 
Source:

- "Fredericksburg, Texas... The First Fifty Years. A Translation of Penniger's 50th Anniversary Festival Edition", 1971, Fredericksburg Publishing Co., Inc.
-  Hanschke, Robert. Freie Presse für Texas. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 2559, Ed. 1 Tuesday, September 23, 1890, newspaper, September 23, 1890; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1082186/: accessed May 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

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