About The Philharmonic
The Belleville Philharmonic Society was founded on November 19, 1866. With their first concert performed on January 26, 1867. The Society’s first conductor was Theodore Decker, who began the annual schedule of concerts that is unbroken to this day–making the Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra the nation’s second oldest symphony orchestra in continuous operation. The original orchestra was comprised of talented volunteer musicians who made distinguished contributions to the community in a wide range of vocations. The same can be said of the Society’s various ensembles today.
The Philharmonic Chorale was formed for the Society’s centennial in 1966 and was first directed by Charles Laughlin. The chorale performs on its own and with the Philharmonic Orchestra, often teaming with other choruses in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
THE GERMAN CULTURAL INFLUENCE
The Philharmonic Society of Belleville was formed in 1866, held its first concert on January 26th, 1867, and incorporated in 1871. It is the second oldest continuously operating orchestra in the country after the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. To understand the orchestra’s origins, it is important to look at the influence of early Germans on the city’s development. Belleville was established in 1814 and incorporated in 1850. In the 1830s, early German settlers of St. Clair County were known as “Latin Farmers.” More classically educated intellectuals than skilled agriculturalists, many of these immigrants established early Belleville businesses. After 1848, more Germans known as the “Forty-Eighters” came to the area seeking political, religious and intellectual freedom. German immigrants brought cultural and educational advances to the area. One Belleville historic figure was German-born educator, Henry Raab. Raab was the first full-time Superintendent of Belleville Public Schools and later became the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. He was also librarian for the Saengerbund and Library society. The German Saengerbund, a German choral society, merged with the library in 1860. When the Philharmonic formed, he served as board secretary and second violinist for the fledgling organization.
German influences were evident in the Belleville Education System. In the First Annual Report for the Belleville Public Schools for the School Year Ending June 1874 prepared by Superintendent Raab, 800 students from Belleville and West Belleville were enrolled in German classes. The Principal of German Instruction, however, noted that many of these second-generation German Americans lacked proficiency in the language. According to Alvin Nebelsick in A History of Belleville, in 1874, Belleville residents founded the first city Kindergarten, only nineteen years after another “Latin Farmer” community, Waterton, Wisconsin, established the first in the nation. Sophie Koerner, wife of former Illinois Lieutenant Governor, and German-born Gustav Koerner, was found er of the Belleville Kindergarten. The secretary was Mrs. Henry Raab.
The 1860 and 1866 Belleville City Directories documented German cultural societies such as the German Turnverein (Turners Society), the Belleville Singverein, and the Belleville Saengerbund and Library Society. Two of the four newspapers of the time, the Sterns Des Westen and the Belleviller Zeitung, were printed in Ger man. A third, the Belleville News-Democrat, advertised printing services available in German.
In 1866, after the Civil War, a group of German musicians, businessmen, city and state leaders, a number who were veterans, met to organize an orchestral society. All of the 13 men listed as organizers, directors, or first officers are documented as being born in Germany.
Many were important business and community leaders. As is the case today, very few of the board or orchestra members were professional musicians. Early board members and musicians held positions of attorney, physician, saloon owner, lumber yard owner, educator, carpenter, grocer, cigar maker, tax collector, police, laborer, and county clerk.
Many German immigrants from Illinois served the Union in the Civil War. At least 7 of the 24 founding Phil harmonic members were veterans and additional members had sons or family members serving. Six of these seven served in the 43rd regiment. According to the William Burton article Ethnics in the Civil War, the 43rd regiment, one of three German regiments in Illinois, was raised primarily through the efforts of Gustave Koerner and Julius Raith who recruited mostly immigrants and their sons.
Among the early Philharmonic First Officers were General William Kueffner and Captain William Ehrhardt. Philharmonic First Officer, Charles Vollrath, Organizer, Charles “Carl” Magin, and orchestra member, William Thebus, all served in the 43rd regiment and listed their occupation as musicians in Civil War Records. According to An Encyclopedia of the History of St. Louis, Vollrath, one of the few professional musicians in the Philharmonic, left the area to become the leader of the Kansas City Turnverein Orchestra and later returned to start the St. Louis Vollrath Military Band and Orchestra.
150+ YEARS OF TRADITION
Because of the Society’s heritage, board minutes were initially written in German. Early programs were printed in German and English and did not include names of orchestra members or soloists. Season tickets were $3 and included four to eight concerts. Music from these early concerts has been incorporated into the 150th anniversary season. According to Virginia Blair in her article Singing Societies and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Belleville, the orchestra rehearsed every night at the Spritzenhaus (firehouse) for the first concert. Blair wrote “The sound of the Philharmonic could be heard throughout the town until 9 PM when members rested for a beer pause.” Early rehearsals were also
held in stores, saloons, and private homes. Three weeks after organization, the orchestra performed its first con cert at the City Park Auditorium on the northeast corner of Richland and 1st North, with Theodore Decker as musical director. After 1883 when the Liederkranz Society purchased Heinrich’s Opera House, many concerts were held at the Liederkranz Hall at 119 N. Illinois. By the 1930s, the Liederkranz Society was diminishing in numbers and eventually sold their hall. During the 1930s and 40’s, Philharmonic concerts were held at Legion Halls and USOs. Later concerts were held at schools including the former Central Junior High and Belleville West High School – current home of Linden Wood University and of some of the current Philharmonic concerts. The Philharmonic Orchestra performed at community events throughout the area. A concert card for a Centralia performance, documents this early history. In the Philharmonic Society minutes, it was noted that the orchestra also played a performance of Schneewittchen (Snow White) presented at the Kindergarten. This building would later become the Philharmonic Hall. The Philharmonic Society participated in the Belleville Centennial, Sesquicentennial, and Bicentennial celebrations. This community tradition continues today with performances at events such as Belleville Art on the Square and Oktoberfest.
The Philharmonic has a history of performing with various singing societies and featuring instrumental soloists. The 1880 Kronthal Liedertafel Chorus, conducted by Gustav “Prof” Neubert, often accompanied the orchestra. In 1966 for its 100th anniversary, the Philharmonic added the Chorale directed by Charles Laughlin. In 1994, under conductor Alfred Duckett, the Philharmonic started the Stars of Tomorrow Concerto Competition, featuring instrumental soloists of college age and younger. Later, under the direction of Robert Charles Howard, the orchestra partnered with such performers as Christine Brewer, Celtica and The Four Voices.
Early orchestra concerts often involved more than music. According to the book Belleville 1814 to 1914, after each concert a Tanzkranzchen or dancing party was held for concert goers, with young people filling their dance cards. Some concerts were followed with a Tableau, where motionless figures depicted a scene. The first concert was followed by a tableau titled the Nine Muses. The last concert of the season was known as the “Sommer Nachts Fest” held in Huff’s Garden at 900 W. Main. This tradition of dancing and the Philharmonic continued into the mid-1900s when the Friends of the Philharmonic held Gala balls as fundraisers. The Ladies’ Auxillary “Friends of the Philharmonic” was organized in 1961 to help financially support the Society. Throughout the 1960s into the 1980s, the Philharmonic honored its German heritage by organizing annual Beer and Pretzel Concerts featuring all the Philharmonic ensembles. In 1985, under the direction of John MacEnulty, conductor from 1983 to 1992, the Belleville Philharmonic began an over thirty-year partnership with the Belleville School of Ballet by performing the full-length Nutcracker Ballet. These performances featured principal dancers brought in from New York. Other joint performances included Peter and the Wolf. Over the course of 150 years, there have been conductors, some with family ties to the Philharmonic spanning multiple generations. Theodore Decker, also music director of the Saengerbund and organist of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, was the first musical director, serving from 1866 to 1869. According to family members, he later conducted in Omaha and in Tennessee. From 1869-1885, Julius Liese served as conductor and did much to bring classical music to the area. Before becoming conductor, he played tympani and provided piano accompaniment for the orchestra. In the 1868-69 Belleville City Directory, Liese was a Professor of Music. Later, he was involved in the lumber business, a family tradition that continues today and led to his recognition in 2016 with a star on Belleville’s Walk of Fame. Gustav “Prof” Neubert holds the distinction as the longest-serving conductor, from 1885 to 1910. His father Dr. Carl Neubert, a founding member of the Philharmonic, was a well-known homeopathic physician as well as editor and reporter for the Belleville newspaper Post Und Zeitung. In a book entitled History of the Philharmonic Society, former orchestra member, Fred Fleishbein, recalled “Prof” Neubert wearing a Prince Albert coat and a high wing collar, striped trousers, and white vest. He said, “I finally prevailed upon him to get a full-dress suit and thereafter he appeared in white tie and tails.” In the 1906 City Directory, Neubert 15 N. Jackson. resided a block from the Philharmonic on The Magin family were founding members and long-time supporters of the Philharmonic Orchestra, holding positions as board members, conductors, and musicians. Charles Magin played violin and was listed as an organizer of the early orchestra, starting a tradition of family involvement lasting at least 5 generations. His son, Joseph, played horn. Charles’ grandson, Carl J. Magin, was conductor from 1919-1921. From 1944 to 1953, another grandson Rudolph “Rudy” conducted. Rudolph was also a long-time violinist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Later generations also played with the Philharmonic. Frank E. Macke conducted from 1921 to 1922, and is best known for writing the “Belleville Homecoming March”, found on the 2017 Philharmonic Heritage CD, “The Tradition Comes Alive.”
In 1923, John W. Marsh took over as conductor until 1935. Marsh, a successful businessman, was a driving force of fundraising among community and civic leaders, helping the Philharmonic overcome financial difficulties of the times. As a member of the Rotary Club, he organized the DeMolay Band to get young men interested in the Philharmonic. Marsh was the grandfather of Audrey Marsh King, a generous benefactor of the society and a Board President in the 1990s. George N. Tuerck played with the orchestra for years as concertmaster and then took over as conductor from 1954-1961. In 1962 he organized and conducted the Belleville Junior Philharmonic. Carmine Ficocelli conducted the Belleville Philharmonic when it played for the Inauguration Ball of Gover nor James Thompson in 1977. In 1980, the Belleville Phil harmonic was selected by the Illinois Council of Orchestras as “Orchestra of the Year.” Phillip aeltz, conductor at the time, cited the range of activities offered to the community as the reason the Belleville Philharmonic was able to compete against much larger orchestras. Paeltz is founder and headmaster at The Governor French Academy in Belleville. Robert Charles Howard became conductor in 1995, remaining until his retirement in 2016, making him the second longest-serving conductor . Under Howard, the orchestra played all nine of Beethoven’s symphonies and a number of Howard’s original pieces including Wilderness Reflections, commissioned by the Oratorio Society of Estes Park for the park’s Centennial celebration. Robert Hart Baker became the newest conductor during this, the 150th season.
PHILHARMONIC PAST AND PRESENT HOMES
Prior to the purchase of its current home on Jack son, the Philharmonic Society met throughout Belleville. According to the 1877 Belleville City Directory, the Phil harmonic Board of Directors met at Knoebel’s Hall located on the southeast corner of Public Square on the first Tuesday of the month. By 1891, the Philharmonic Society could be found at 206 and 208 E. Main, listed in the city directory as the Philharmonic Hall. In 1897, the Society had the opportunity to purchase the Belleville Kindergarten building, at Lot 257 on N. Jackson, for $825. By 1907, the treasurer declared the Philharmonic free of debt after having paid off the mortgage.
At the time the Philharmonic moved to its home on Jackson Street, the neighborhood was similar to today in building and business composition, albeit with more green space and fewer parking lots. It was surrounded by private residences and boarding houses. To the north, on the corner, was the Baptist church, and to the south, near Main Street, were businesses. In city directories, the Philharmonic home was listed as being at 112 N. Jackson until the early 1900s, when the city revised address numbering, and it became 116 N. Jackson.
Historic photos of the hall reveal original tin ceilings and early accounts describe it as one large room with three anterooms. Architectural drawings of the building from the early 1960s showed a stage at the front of the building and the corner cabinets that still exist today. In 1961, renovations were completed that added a colonial-style portico to the front and a storage room to the side. The tin ceiling was covered to accommodate heating ducts and lighting and the offices and bath rooms were reworked. The wainscoting and corner cabinets were left intact. Architectural drawings show a revamped and expanded kitchen, but that was left undone. In 1962, the St. Clair County Historical Society awarded the Belleville Philharmonic Society a Landmark Plaque for the preservation of the building. The Philharmonic later acquired the building on the southeast corner of Jackson for office and class rehearsal space. Other debt, combined with this purchase caused the Philharmonic to once again incur a mortgage. After the sale of this building, that mortgage was retired in 1998. Audrey Marsh King, the president at the time, is pictured burning the mortgage. Today, in addition to serving as rehearsal space for the Philharmonic ensembles, the hall is used by various bands for rehearsals, by music teachers for recitals, and by the community for a variety of private events.
BELLEVILLE PHILHARMONIC YOUTH ORCHESTRA AND YOUTH ENSEMBLES
The Junior Philharmonic Orchestra was formed in April of 1962. The first concert was given on October 21, 1962 at the Philharmonic Hall with George N. Tuerck, concertmaster of the Senior Orchestra, conducting. The Junior Philharmonic Stage Band, organized to give members experience in playing modern dance band music, made its first appearance in March of 1966. Tuerck remained the conductor of these youth ensembles until 1976.
In a 1974 Metro East Magazine article, it was stated that George Tuerck required the same professionalism for the youth as the adult orchestra. In a later interview, he is quoted as saying “I told them ‘You can’t rehearse with empty chairs.‘ So I guess they thought I was a tyrant – and probably I was.” Despite Tuerck’s toughness, the youth interviewed in the earlier article seemed to thrive under his leadership. The Junior Philharmonic experienced a variety of name changes and conductors throughout the years. The first change came in 1977 when it was renamed Belleville Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. The name changed again in 1994, to the Metro-East Junior Orchestra to represent the growing area where its musicians came from which its musicians came. Dr. Leon Burke III was hired in 1995 to conduct the students and has been the conductor since that time. In 2007, the name was returned to Belleville Philharmonic Youth Orchestra to realign its name with our parent organization.
Two notable programs of the Youth Orchestra are the George N. Tuerck Concerto Competition and the Summer Intergenerational Orchestra. In 1998, the George N. Tuerck Music Education Fund was established to inspire and assist young string players in the Belleville metropolitan area by providing them a scholarship award for their music abilities. The 1st Annual George N. Tuerck Memorial concert was performed on November 14, 1999 and showcased string concerto competition winners. By the 2006 concert, it was expanded to include all instruments.
The Philharmonic experimented with different summer youth programs. By 1974 the number of youth orchestra string musicians had dwindled due to the discontinuation of the string programs in Belleville area schools.
In 1978 the Philharmonic started a separate youth string program with support from the Belleville News-Democrat. In 1984, through a grant from Oliver C. Joseph, the Belleville Philharmonic offered a summer string program for area youth.
A summer orchestra program was first established after Dr. Burke became conductor. In 2007, this summer program was modified to become the Intergenerational Orchestra to give youth musicians the opportunity to play alongside their parents, grandparents and music teachers. It has been a popular event ever since.
History of the Belleville Philharmonic Chorale
From early days, the love of music has been one of the defining characteristics of the citizens of Belleville. Beginning with families who gathered around Mama or Papa performing on violins or pianos, singing for the amusement of themselves and their neighbors. Those early lovers of music went on to form singing societies and small instrumental ensembles, eventually forming the Philharmonic Society of Belleville . Vocal and choral music was always included at concerts from the very beginning of the Society, but it wasn’t until its 100th anniversary that the Belleville Philharmonic Chorale was officially formed. In 1966, on November 20th, 100 years to the day of the society’s founding, a newly formed chorale of 87 voices, under the direction of Charles Laughlin and accompanied by the orchestra, performed Mendelssohn’s “Elijah Oratorio.” The chorale became a regular at the popular Beer & Pretzel Concerts, making their first appearance that year at the 7th annual concert. In its first three seasons, the chorale went on to perform Beethoven’s “Christ on the Mount of Olives” and Mendelssohn’s “Saint Paul Oratorio.” In June of 1969, the chorale came under the direction of William K. Warma, a tenor from the chorale. The following season, Robert J. Hachmeister became the chorale director (1970-1978). Now in its fifth season, the chorale began a tradition of Christmas concerts that is unbroken to his
day, often premiering arrangements and original compositions. They had become great favorites, performing with the orchestra at the annual beer and pretzel concerts, singing popular music of the day and leading the audience in singalongs until breaking at 10 o’clock when dancing commenced, often lasting until 1 AM in the morning. Charles R. Rann was director from 1978-1981. In 1979, the Mascoutah Junior High School Concert Chorus joined the chorale to sing Bizet’s Carmen, accompanied by the orchestra under Phillip E. Paeltz.
Phillip E. Paeltz (1981-1983), during his time as director, led the chorale in performing his original composition “Springfield Circle” set to poems by Harold Wolfe. On May 22, 1988, Tina A. M. Setterlund led the
chorale in celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Saint Paul United Church of Christ, where one of the pieces per formed was Hadyn’s “The Heavens Are Telling” from The Creation. In 1990, at the 200th Anniversary of Saint Clair County, she conducted the chorale in Gounod’s “Cecelia Mass.”
Dr. Nancy S. Ypma stepped in as director from 1992-1994, performing Handel’s Messiah, Poulenc’s Glo ria and many works by John Rutter. Richard W. Thompson (1994-2003) began the tradition of naming the winter concert “Christmas Wonders.” He brought with him the St. Theresa Choir, swelling the size of the chorale.
Robert Charles Howard took over as chorale conductor in 2003, retiring in 2016, making him the longest serving director of the choral. Under Howard’s baton, the Chorale sang many of his original compositions, as well as works written by chorale member Charles duMontier. Robert Hart Baker became our newest chorale conductor in 2016.
Founders of the Philharmonic Society of Belleville
Henry Raab Christoph Espenhain
Martin Herr Henry Viehmann
Charles Magin Dr. Carl Neubert
Theodore Decker Martin Medart
Retired Conductors
| Carmine Ficocelli and Robert J. Hachmeister | 1974-1975 |
| Laurent Torno | 1971-1974 |
| Robert Schieber | 1969-1971 |
| William Schatzkammer | 1963-1969 |
| Max Stendel | 1961-1963 |
| George Tuerck | 1954-1961 |
| Rudolph Magin | 1944-1953 |
| Don Foster | 1938-1943 |
| Charles Muckensturm | 1935-1938 |
| John W. Marsh | 1923-1935 |
| Frank Macke x | 1921-1922 |
| Carl Magin | 1919-1921 |
| Frederich Fischer | 1914-1919 |
| Fred A. Kern | 1911-1914 |
| Adolph Hansing | 1910-1911 |
| Gustave Neubert | 1885-1910 |
| Julius Liese | 1869-1885 |
| Theodore Decker | 1866-1869 |