Frank Damrosch

The son of the conductor Leopold Damrosch and opera singer Helene von Heimburg, Damrosch emigrated to the United States in 1871 with his parents and siblings, the later conductor Walter Damrosch and his sister Clara Mannes, who would later teach at the Veltin School for Girls in Manhattan, as Frank Damrosch himself did as well.

From 1885 to 1891, Damrosch served as the chorus master of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. He also helped found the Musical Art Society of New York. In 1897, he was appointed supervisor of music of New York public schools. In 1898, he succeeded his brother Walter as conductor of the Oratorio Society, a position he held until 1912. In 1905, with support from philanthropist James Loeb, Damrosch established the New York Institute of Musical Art (the later Juilliard School), which he directed until 1933. In 1911, he also helped create a school for Army band leaders at Fort Jay (originally Fort Columbus) on Governor’s Island, New York.