The society hosts the Stars of Tomorrow, an annual concerto competition for youth through college-age musicians throughout the area.
[4] Founding musicians and community members included Christopher Espenhain, merchant and cornet virtuoso; Martin Herr, an alderman; Henry Viehmann; Charles Magin, a noted band leader; Dr. Carl Neubert, physician and editor of the German newspaper Post und Zeitung; Theodore Decker, an accomplished pianist; and Martin Medart, a justice of the peace and clarinet player.
The group performed its first concert on January 26, 1867 and in 1897, it purchased the hall on North Jackson Street which previously housed a Kindergarten.
Orchestra conductors through 1974 included the following: Theodore Decker 1866-69, Julius Liese 1869-1885, Gustave Neubert 1885-1910, Adolph Hansing 1910-1911, Fred A. Kern 1911-1914, Frederich Fischer 1914-1919, Carl Magin 1919-1921, Frank Macke 1921-1922, John W. Marsh 1923-1935, Charles Muckensturm 1935-1938, Don Foster 1938-1943, Rudolph Magin 1944-1953, George Tuerck 1954-1961,[5] Max Stendel 1961-1963, William Schatzkammer 1963-1969, Robert Schieber 1969-1971, Laurent Torno 1971-1974, Carmine Ficocelli 1974-1975, Robert J. Hachmeister 1974-1975[6] Ethan Edwards - President; Kathryn Bowman - Vice-President; Laura Veach - Secretary; Eileen Lapka - Asst.
Treasurer/Ticket Sales; Catherine Stoltz - Marketing; Kathy Albers; Barbara Ducey; Sue Knepper; Hilda Koluch; Kathryn Lakiotis Sharron Lindsey; Danny Nollman; Karen Rainge; Roger Schlueter; Josh Wohltman;