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.
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 |