New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung, June 24, 1894, p. 1

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Opening Concert of the United Singers of New York. – Honorary President Steinway, Festival President Katzenmayer, the Governor and Mayor speak.

The power of the German Lied was visible yesterday at the opening concert by the United Singers at Madison Square Garden. Thousands upon thousands streamed to the decorated palace from Brooklyn, Jersey City, Hoboken, Newark and all the other neighborhoods. Loge seats and galleries were filled not just with Germans but also by many who might have heard the German songs for a first time.

Shortly before the start, the honorary guests took their honorary loge seats, among them Governor Roswell P. Flower and wife, Mayor Thomas F. Gilroy, German ambassador to Washington von Saurma-Jeltsch, ambassador to the Berlin court Gen. Runyon and their wives, F. A. Ringler with wife and daughter and Governor Hogg of Texas.

In the meantime the following filled the loge seats:
President Katzenmeyer, Honorary President William Steinway and family, Emigration Commissioner Dr. Joseph H. Senner, Congress member Richard Bartholdt, John D. Townsend, Vice-President Tenhompel, Commissioner Charles F. H. Wahle, Jakob Redecke, Hugo Ritterbusch, Richard Weinacht, Julius Bieu, John D. Crimmins, Superior Court Judge Ehrlich, General Consul Havemeyer, Judge McAdam, Col. John A. Cockerill, Chaunsey M. Depew, George Ehret, Comptroller Ashbel Fitch, Randolph Guggenheimer, Ex-Mayor Hewitt, Eduard Lauterbach, Hermann Ridder, Walter Stanton, John H. Storm, Reinhold von der Emde, William Vigelius, John W. Weber, Charles C. Wehrum, William Wicke.

After the singing of the National Anthem the honorary guests proceeded under "Hail Columbia" to the speaker podium. Under seemingly unending applause Mr. Katzenmayer stepped up to welcome all those present. "I welcome you in the Empire City and now have the pleasure of introducing a man whose name and reputation goes beyond the city limits, whose love for music and song and its promotion has no equal. Our honorary President William Steinway!" Who said:

"Ladies and Gentlemen! While I thank you for the generous welcome, which you bestowed upon me, permit me to thank you at the same time on the satisfaction for the enthusiastic manner and way with which the music loving public New York's has followed the command of the United Singers and gathered to celebrate the inauguration of this festival.
"German male chorus groups started already in 1835 in Philadelphia and in New York in 1847. Beginning with 1848 they increased immensely in every city of the land and in connection with the American choral and oratory societies, which formed soon thereafter. These were the pioneers who introduced our native American population to the musical tone picture of the famous German composers.
"A personal observation of this country's musical elements during the past 45 years lets me now say that the love and understanding for good music increased quickly among the American people, that the progress has been phenomenal and that the United States rightfully stands in the first place as the 'land of music and song.'
"This largest of all song fests ever held here or in any other country is especially honored today by the presence of highest ranking public servants of this State and the city of New York. Before I close I would like to mention that the motto of the German-American singers is "My dear mother Germania, my sweet song Columbia." [Rousing applause].

"It is my pleasant duty to introduce to you His Excellency Roswell P Flower, Governor of the State of New York.

When the applause following his speech had ended Wm. Steinway rose again and said:
"Ladies and Gentlemen! It is my pleasure to introduce to you a man who for years has been a successful, loyal public servant, the Mayor of the City of New York, the Honorable Thomas F. Gilroy."

His speech was followed by musical presentations by the individual singing societies in town for the prize singing.

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