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History of the Beethoven Concert Band

The band’s origins began when Carl Beck organized a forty-six-member orchestra that performed Felix Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony, to play for the 1887 Texas State Sängerfest. This was possibly the first complete symphony to be heard in Texas.

Beck had an orchestra of more than two dozen players to complement his choruses, the Beethoven Mäennerchor and Dämenchor, and also to perform independently.  The orchestra played a subscription series of six concerts at Muth's Garden in 1894, with concertmaster Wilhelm Marx as soloist.  The need for a concert hall was satisfied in 1895, when the Beethoven Mäennerchor built the 1,200-seat Beethoven Hall on South Alamo Street.  Beck programmed the music of Wagner whenever he could muster the forces necessary.  During the 1896 State Sängerfest, hosted by the Beethoven Mäennerchor, Beck presented four concerts that included six Wagnerian works, in addition to music by Giuseppe Verdi, Ludwig van Beethoven, Camille Saint-Saëns, Karl Maria von Weber, and Edvard Grieg.  The combined forces united to perform the "Spring" section of Joseph Haydn's oratorio The Seasons.  

By the 1890s Beck had also developed an accomplished band, an addition that enabled him to promote popular music.  Even with the band, Beck programmed Wagner in potpourri arrangements, and a wider audience than usual came to hear the performances.  The Band’s goal was to keep German music alive and well.  It was and still is an all-volunteer organization comprised of musicians from many walks of life and yes, even different national backgrounds. 

Although this group started as a band, it tried to become an orchestra, and then reverted back to a band. At one time it was known as the Hermann Sons Band.  It was initially rejected by the Hermann Sons organization because it was too costly to support, and a suggestion was made that the band try to find a more suitable sponsor...perhaps Beethoven Mäennerchor since it was another German musical organization. Both groups the Mäennerchor and the Band, were formed by German settlers.  Many members held dual membership, which made the Band’s transition easier.

 The band grew and developed under 18 different directors over its 60-plus year official history. The band history continues in 1943 with Alfred (Papa) Schaefer directing.   Some of the members were:  Hazel and Charles Franz, Julian (Babe) and Ruby Forenzer, Albert Greene, Ralph Herman, Ruben Knape, Fred Weiss and his brother, Otto Weiss. There were three more present that evening, but their names have been lost.  Alfred Schaefer, the first Director, was a businessman besides having a love for music; he brought many talented musicians to the band. When Mr. Schaefer died, Bill Zimmer, first chair violinist and assistant band director, became band director. When Zimmer died the orchestra faded out. The future directors were interested more in a band. 

Felix Olens was the director of the Firemen's Band when he came to us.  Jimmy Osburn retired from the Army Band and was a member of the Shrine Band.  John Meyers, alto sax, was assistant director for Osburn. The fifth director of the Beethoven Band was Ray Mitchel, an Army bandsman and cornetist.  Cameron Starrnes, a music teacher and music store owner, replaced Mitchel.  A drummer named Oliver Nowotny, assistant director, replaced Starnes to become the next director.  Mitchell Lovelace, assistant director, served as director when Nowotny could no longer assume full responsibility for the band. Nowotny remained as the assistant.  

Bee Carsey, director of the Shrine Traveling Circus Band and a cornetist, became the ninth director with Mitchell Lovelace staying as assistant. Jerry Huffman, a solo cornetist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, came to us in the early seventies. He was assisted by Dee Roy Cain, French horn and bass player. Phil Freeman, retired Army Band Director and trombone player, became the director in the late seventies. He was assisted by: H.H. Copeland, retired Army Band playing drum; David Mathis, retired Army Band Director playing French horn; and Bob Lenneville, cornet and baritone player. David Mathis, a co-founder and conductor of the San Antonio Municipal Band, became director in the late eighties. David was assisted by Bob Lenneville and Mario Petrelli.  Mr. Petrelli often led the West Point Band during his Army career. In early 1994, David Mathis retired due to poor health.  (above written by Al Greene)

The next director was Alfred Tapia, who had performed previously with Band in the Tenor Horn section. Al had been a Bandmaster with the Army and acquired his love and passion for German music after having served two assignments in Germany. It was during one of these tours that he was invited to visit the British Army's school of music, Kneller Hall, and gain insight into how they train their musicians. Under Al's direction, the Band has recorded a cassette tape and more recently, a new compact disc, "Ein Abend mit Blasmusik im Garten von Beethoven". Al left us in 1996 to go the work for The Department of Justice as an Immigration Inspector.  Richard Wallace, trombone, bass clarinet and euphonium player, became our next director.  He also was the director of the Shrine Band.  Nick Ochoa directed the band during the 1999-2001 seasons, with David Mathis filling in at times. 

Then in 2001 Don Craig directed the band.  Don played clarinet, wrote music and sang German songs with the band.  He was a director with the Army band and ensemble.  He also had several tours in Germany and overseas.  Assistant Band Directors to Don Craig were Lenora Newsom and Jerry Hogue, a High School Band Director who also directs the County Line Community and Brass Band. Lenora Newsom may have the distinction of being the only director who was halted mid-song, by the Beethoven Garden Weatherman- her concert was rained out right in the middle of the program.  From 2002 through 2005, David Elliott, a Voice Director and Horn player joined us as the band director.  He was assisted by Gary Mosee, a clarinetist and retired Dilley, TX band director.   Also in 2005, Jerry Hogue, directed the band.   Al Tapia returned in July of 2005, after a 10 year break from the band, and is the current Beethoven Band Director.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Theodore Albrecht, "101 Years of Symphonic Music in San Antonio," Southwestern Musician/Texas Music Educator, March, November 1975.

Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "," http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/BB/fbe72.html (accessed August 2, 2006).
(NOTE: "s.v." stands for sub verbo, "under the word.")

The Handbook of Texas Online is a joint project of The General Libraries at the University of Texas at Austin (http://www.lib.utexas.edu) and the Texas State Historical Association (http://www.tsha.utexas.edu).