If you are interested in joining, please fill out a Membership Application and return it to the Club Room.
The Beethoven Maennerchor was organized in February of 1867 by August Thielepape, a former San Antonio mayor. He was born in Wabern, Hesse, Germany July 10, 1814 and was a practicing engineer in his home country before his 1850 move to Indianola, Texas. In 1854, he relocated to San Antonio, where he sang tenor and worked as assistant conductor in the Mannergesang-Verein. His professional work was not limited to engineering. His career included architecture, teaching, photography, and lithography. His accomplishments included surveying Uvalde's townsite, desinging the San Antonio Casino Club and Comal County Courthouse, and co-founding the German English School.
As a union sympathizer, his life during the Civil War was most likely spent in Mexico and Eagle Pass. On July 21, 1865, he was among the group who raised the Union's flag at the Alamo. At this point, he created the Beethoven Maennerchor, conducted the Casino Club chorus, and was appointed mayor of the city. His term saw the building of bridges and other city improvements like focusing on the school system.
In 1872, he left office and moved to Chicago, handing the direction of the chorus to Andreas Scheidemantel. He worked in the rebuilding of Chicago after the massive fire and lived in the city during his retirement. Throughout his life, he composed new work which was influenced by Mendelssohn and Spohr. His work included Lieder and six duets for soprano and tenor. He also wrote incidental music for play Der Meineidbauer by Ludwig Anzengruber and one unaccompanied male chorus, Der Wind und der Wellen Lied.
The Beethoven Maennerchor meets every Tuesday at 8 p.m. for rehearsal. The choir hosts and participates in a number of events throughout the year, including Gartenfest concerts starting mid-year, state and local Sangerfests, Fiesta, the Christmas season's Kristkindlmarkt and German worship service, Weihnachtsfeier.
