787 Featherbed Lane, Clark, New Jersey 07066, United States
Milestones of a German men's choir
A milestone history of Saengerchor Newark, Inc.
1925 Ten Fellow emigrants, from the city of Solingen in Germany, gathered in the Newark Turnhalle on October 20 to give birth to a new men's chorus that they christened Sängerchor Newark
1940 The 15th Anniversary Concert was held in Krueger's Auditorium, and old Newark landmark. The concert featured the chorus in the world-premier performance of the challenging choral work titled Columbus Letzte Nacht (Columbus's Last Night).
1941 The Sängerchor holds it's first concert in the Mosque Theater, Newark's Arts and Cultural center of that era. The concert was sold out eight days in advance and was attended by a standing room audience of 3,400 people
1950 The Sängerchor placed first in the men's chorus "A class" prize singing competition the Northeastern Sängerbund Song Festival held in Philadelphia. Recognition for this achievement was temporary custody of the Columbia Trophy. This trophy, donated to the Northeaster Sängerbund in 1926 by the German newspaper "N. Y. Staats Zeitung, und Herold" is presented to the chorus achieving the highest point count in the men's chorus "A class". If not successfully defended at the next competition, the trophy is surrendered to the new winner. In order to permanently retire the trophy a men's chorus must win in three successive "A Class" competitions.
October: the chorus performed in a concert in New York's famous Carnegie Hall.
November: The Sängerchor celebrated its Silver Anniversary at the Mosque Theater. Despite a tropical storm that battered the entire state that day, the concert attracted a near capacity house. The chorus performed superbly and the audience was charmed by the arias and songs of the world renown tenor Lauritz Melchior of the Metropolitan Opera.
1956 The chorus made its first trip to the German homeland visiting the cities of Rheydt, Solingen, Duelken, Altenahr and Stuttgart.
1960 The chorus made its second Germany trip. The highlight of that trip was a benefit concert for German orphan children in Rheydt.
1964 The Sängerchor reclaimed the "Columbia Trophy" at the Northeastern Sängerbund Song Festival in NYC after having relinquished it in the 1954 competition.
1965 The chorus 40th Anniversary Concert was celebrated in Symphony Hall (formerly Mosque Theater) before two-thousand guest. The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and Zinka Milanov a leading Soprano of the Metropolitan Opera Association, were featured guest performers at the concert. The younger generation of the Sängerchor forms a "Double Quartet whose immediate success and popularity made them a focal point of many Sängerchor functions over the next two decades.
1967 The chorus successfully defended the "Columbia Trophy" in the "A Class" competition at the Northeastern Sängerbund Song Festival in Philadelphia.
1968 The chorus made its third trip to Germany. The itinerary included sightseeing through southern Germany and Austria and participation at the Stuttgart Song Festival.
1969 The Sängerchor went on a memorable "Herrentour" to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where they gave an acclaimed, concert performance at the Milwaukee Liederkranz.
1970 The Sängerchor successfully defended and permanently retired the coveted Columbia Trophy at the Northeastern Sängerbund Song Festival in Jersey City.
1974 The Sängerchor holds it’s annual Karneval at the United Singers of Newark clubhouse Evergreen Lodge in Springfield NJ.
1975 The 50th Anniversary Concert was held in the Theater Hall of Kean College, Union, NJ before a capacity filled audience. The Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra and the renowned Soloists Joan Summers, Soprano and Wayne Turnage, Baritone participated. Brendan Byrne, the Governor of New Jersey, proclaimed November 29, 1975, as "Sängerchor Day" in the State of New Jersey.
1976 Double Quartet was founded.
1984 The chorus participated in a three day Songfest in Columbus, Ohio, and is honored in a reception at City Hall.
1986 The chorus visited Columbus Ohio and was officially received by it's Mayor on the steps of city hall.
1988 The Sängerchor performs at the tomb of the unknown soldier at Arlington Cemetery.
1990 The chorus made its fourth Germany trip with concerts in Heiden, Olsberg-Bigge, Solingen, LohrWombach and the Cathedral of Cologne.
1991 The Sängerchor inaugurates the first of three annual concerts presented at the newly renovated Union County Arts Center.
1993 The Sängerchor performed as featured men's chorus at the First National Sängerfest Banquet in Washington, DC.
1996 The Sängerchor and Schwäbischer Sängerbund inaugurate annual Songfest's in Clark's ALJ High School. Songfest to benefit local community and charitable organizations.
1998 The Sängerchor made its fifth trip to Germany highlighted by visits to Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg.
Each year the Sängerchor partakes in the annual GermanHeritage Festival at the PNC Bank Art Center in Holmdel, New Jersey. The Sängerchor Men's Chorus accompanies Heino on this special occasion.
The Sängerchor combined with the Schwäbischer Sängerbund , were featured guest chorus at the annual Steuben Day mass in NYC's Patrick's cathedral.
1999 The Sängerchor, on two occasions, performs as traditional German men's chorus in the Lobby of the NJPAC as part of the NJSO Wagner Festival pre-concert festivities.
2000 The Sänger-Chor celebrated it's Diamond Jubilee in October 2000. Two events marked this milDJBanquetestone, a Church Concert in Plainfield's Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church on Sunday October 22 and a Banquet and Reception at the Chanticler Chateau Restaurant in Warren NJ the following Saturday October 28.
The concert featured Franz Schubert's Deutsche Messe and a selection of American Spirituals especially arranged by Manfred Knoop for the occasion. The Reverend Henry Harrison from the Baptist House of Prayer in Harlem NYC was our featured Gospel soloist and the chorus was supported by the Royal Brass Ensemble and Manfred Knoop on the piano. Sound bytes of these spirituals can be heard on our repertoire page. As a special feature the Sänger-Chor was joined by the men from the United Singers of Newark's other member choruses (the Schwäbischer Sängerbund and the Volkschor Harmonie) and sang some famous men's choral selections from past years. Former Sänger-Chor President Manfred Schneider was the chairperson of the concert.
Our Banquet and Reception was a great success and was highlighted by a Memory Lane exhibit that was put together by Walter Adam the Chairperson of the event. Among the celebrities in attendance was the German Council General Herr. Bernard Edler von der Planitz and the President of the North Eastern Sängerbund of America Mr. Simon Schock.
2001 The Sänger-Chor men's chorus visits St. Elizabeth's RC Church on Sunday March 4, 2001 and performs at two masses. Director Manfred Knoop is the Minister of Music at St. Elizabeth's Church.
2003 The North Eastern Sängerbund Sängerfest held in May 2003.
Songfest 2003 was held at the Presbyterian Church in Westfield NJ June 7, 2003. A Gala Choral Concert and Reception celebrating Manfred Knoop's 25th Anniversary as musical director of the Sänger-Chor was held on November 16, 2003 in Union's Holy Spirit Church. The program featured songs from the past 25 years of Sänger-Chor concerts that became audience and singer's favorites. Many of these are in our repertoire page and available as sound bytes.Two other area choruses, the Carlstadt Mixed Chorus* under Music Director Johanna Teubner-Prussak; and the Schwäbischer Sängerbund Mixed Chorus**, Manfred Knoop, Director also participated in this Gala Concert to pay their tribute to Manfred's achievement. In the finale section of the concert the combined men from the three choruses sang "Das Morgenrot" directed by Manfred Knoop and finished off the program with the mass mixed chorus performing "Wohlauf in Gottes schöne Welt" directed by Johanna Teubner-Prussak.
The concert was followed by a reception in the Church cafeteria where refreshments were served and the audience and singer's were able to personally greet and congratulate Manfred.* Manfred Knoop was Carlstadt's music director in the 1980's. ** Manfred Knoop is the Schwäbischer Sängerbund Mixed Chorus music director since the 1984-85 season.
2004 Songfest 2004 was held at the Holy Spirit Church in Union, NJ on Sunday May 16, 2004.
Christmas Carols at the Deutscher Club of Clark
2005 The wives of the singers started the SCLA (Sänger Chor Ladies Auxilary) with Karen Horan as president, and Margot Blenke as vice president.
2006 The Sängerchor, along with the men of the Schwäbisher Sängerbund, formed the German Men's Chorus of New Jersey and sang at the Bergen PAC in Englewood, NJ. The concert, named "Deep River," was of spirituals & gospel music and featured Jeeminn Lee & friends.
2007 Recorded our CD of Spiritual and Sacred Songs
2008 First performance at Lyons Veterans Hospital (Now an annual event)
2009 Participated at the NOSB Songfest in Washington DC
Hosted MGV Liederkranz from Telfs Austria at Deutsche Club Clark
2010 Participated with Reading PA Liederkranz for their 125th. Anniversary 2011 Manfred Knoop, our Music Director since 1978, passed away February 14. 2011. Gregory Scimě, a long time colleague of Manfred’s, stepped in as our guest music direc- tor, conducting us at our Annual Songfest held May 15, 2011. Our program selections were dedicated to the memory of Manfred and contained many songs that were both Manfred’s and Chorus’ favorites.
2011 On Sunday October 23, 2011, the Sänger-Chor and a host of other choruses and artists, presented A Life in Song, celebrating the life and music of Manfred Knoop. The concert was held at the John J. Breslin Auditorium at Felician College in Lodi, New Jersey. All participants donated their services and all proceeds benefited the Knoop children's college fund.
2012 Hired Markus Hauck as our permanent music director
787 Featherbed Lane, Clark NJ 07066
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