Emil Mollenhauer (1855–1927) was an American musician, an orchestra violinist and conductor.

Biography

Emil Mollenhauer was born in Brooklyn, New York, on August 4, 1855, to Frederick Mollenhauer of

Erfurt Erfurt () is the capital and largest city in the Central German state of Thuringia. It is located in the wide valley of the Gera river (progression: ), in the southern part of the Thuringian Basin, north of the Thuringian Forest. It sits in ...

, Germany, who was himself a violinist. He attended public school in Brooklyn. He was a musical prodigy and was playing in the orchestra of Niblo's Garden in February 1864 before he was nine years old. From the age of sixteen he played in the orchestras of the Booth Theatre, where his uncle led the orchestra, that of Theodore Thomas at Central Park Garden, and the

Damrosch Orchestra The New York Symphony Orchestra was founded as the New York Symphony Society in New York City by Leopold Damrosch in 1878. For many years it was a rival to the older New York Philharmonic, Philharmonic Symphony Society of New York. It was supporte ...

, where he also played piano. He left New York City for Boston where he played at the Bijou Opera House. He played first violin in the

Boston Symphony Orchestra The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881, ...

from 1884 to 1888. He turned to conducting and led the

Germania Orchestra The Germania Musical Society (1848–1854) was an orchestra that performed in the United States in the mid-19th century. Its musicians emigrated from Germany after a successful tour of England.H. Earle Johnson. "The Germania Musical Society." Musi ...

for several years and then led several annual tours as head of the Boston Festival Orchestra, leading concerts with such notable soloists as Emma Calvé, Nellie Melba, and Eugène Ysaÿe. Mollenhauer was conductor of the Apollo Club of Boston, an acclaimed men's chorus, from November 1901 through April 1927. He became conductor of Boston's Handel and Haydn Society in 1899 and held that post until his death. Mollenhauer married Mary Laverty, a professional singer. He died at his home in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 10, 1927. He was scheduled to conduct a concert the day following his death.

References

External links

Biographical history of Massachusetts
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mollenhauer, Emil 1855 births 1927 deaths Musicians from Brooklyn American conductors (music) American male conductors (music) American violinists American male violinists Classical musicians from New York (state)