Upcoming Events

Event Calendar

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2024

Christkindlmarkt

9:00am – 3:00pm

Free admission

Christkindlmarkt

Free admission

Enjoy holiday shopping with the flavor of a German Christkindlmarkt in two stories of booths with many new vendors as well as a number of returning favorites. Shop arts and crafts, paintings, woodworking, candles, ornaments, scented oils, knitted and crocheted items, and many other items for gift giving and home decor, as well as a table of German baked goods and treats. While shopping, enjoy a lunch of German bratwurst and chips and a glass of Gluhwein (hot, spiced wine). St. Nikolaus (traditional German version of Santa Claus) will visit from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and will be available for photos.

Where

Park Edelweiss
3355 Elmhurst Dr

Fort Wayne,
IN 46809

Directions

Christmas Concert / Weihnachtskonzert

4:00pm

Free admission

Christmas Concert / Weihnachtskonzert

Free admission

The annual Weihnachtskonzert (Christmas Concert) is held in December at Saint Peter's Catholic Church. Covering a wide range of German music to celebrate this mid-winter holiday, the Weihnachtskonzert features hymns, carols, and sacred music along with folk songs, popular favorites, and folklore. Whether it's Christmas, the New Year, the winter Solstice, or the end of the Old Year, the history and legacy of German music in the winter is explored.

Where

Saint Peter's Catholic Church
518 E DeWald St

Fort Wayne,
IN 46803

Directions
fish shield icon

Männerchor Fish Fry

All you can eat fish and pork tenderloin with scalloped potatoes, coleslaw, dessert and coffee. Adults $15, kids 12 and under $6. Bar available with German and domestic beer, wine and other beverages and soft drinks. German music. Carry out available. Credit cards accepted

cost

Adults $15.00
Kids 12 & Under $6.00

next fry

where

Park Edelweiss

Directions

Sängerfest

One of the joys of participating in choral singing with the Fort Wayne Männerchor/Damenchor is the cameraderie and fellowship of our family and friends - and participation in the greater community of German singing societies around the world.

Click here to find the next Sängerfest event on our calendar.

The North American Singers Association

Our region of the National Nordamerikanischen Sängerbundes (NASB) is the SOKII district, comprised of more than a dozen German choral groups from the Midwest states of southern Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana. The NASB is comprised of over 90 sängerbundes from some 30 states east of the Rockies. We gather once every year for Sängerfest - a weekend of essen, trinken, und gemütchlikeit.

other choirs in our district

About Us

Fort Wayne Männerchor/Damenchor is a Men's and Women's choir dedicated to the preservation and promotion of their German heritage as expressed in choral music.

Choir rehearsals are held at Park Edelweiss every Thursday evening from September through June:

  • 7:30PM: Damenchor
  • 8:15PM: Gemischt
  • 8:45PM: Männerchor

Membership Meetings are held at 8:30PM on the first Thursday of every month (following a gemischt rehearsal at 7:30PM).

Our History

On October 4, 1869 the first German male chorus, established by German immigrants, was organized in Fort Wayne under the name of the Fort Wayne Sangerbund. Since its origin the chorus has been dedicated to the preservation and promotion of their German heritage as expressed in choral music.

Eventually, there were eight singing societies in the city: the Sangerbund, Eintracht, Concordia, Teutonia, Germania, Frohsinn, Lieder Tafel, and the Manner Gesangverein. In 1899 these eight choruses combined under the name of Concordia Gesangverein, which consolidated with the Saxonia Gesangverein in 1922. Four years later this consolidation became the Fort Wayne Männerchor. A Ladies’ Auxiliary was organized in 1938, but the ladies only began singing in 1974. In 1997 they became full members of the chorus and it became known as the Fort Wayne Männerchor/Damenchor. The chorus joined the North American Sangerbund in 1871. On September 5, 1897 it became one of the founding members of the Indiana District. In November 1974, it joined the Southern Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana District, successor to the old Indiana District.

Originally rehearsals were held weekly at Strodel’s Saloon at Columbia and Barr Streets. Activities were held at various locations until 1922, when the chorus moved to a new location at 1804 1/2 West Main Street, where it remained for 79 years. On May 1, 2001 the Fort Wayne Mannerchor/Damenchor purchased a new home at 3355 Elmhurst Drive, known as “Park Edelweiss”. The building is used for rehearsals and club events.

Since 1936 the Fort Wayne Männerchor/Damenchor has participated in district conferences involving approximately 350 singers which are held each year in April or May. Every three years they are involved in the National Sängerfest, which has had as many as 4,000 participants.

On the occasion of its 100th anniversary the chorus received the “Zelter Plakette”, an award named after Carl Friedrich Zelter, the father of choral music in Germany. It is awarded by the German government to choral groups all over the world on the occasion of the celebration of 100 years of continuous German choral singing.

Because of their enthusiasm for German culture, members of the Männerchor/ Damenchor sponsor a number of traditional German activities every year. In the early days they held monthly dances. Today, they continue their interest in the preservation of German heritage with a full schedule of annual activities. The club also joins with three other local organizations to put on Fort Wayne's annual Germanfest, an eight-day celebration of German culture and heritage.

Leadership

Chad Trouten

President

Paul Winicker

Vice President

Christine Trouten

Treasurer

Joe Hoffman / Ed Dailey

Maintenance / Groundskeeper

Carol Patterson

Recording Secretary

Craig Selig

Financial Secretary

Thomas Remenschneider

Music Director

Dain Christensen , Patti Knox, Carol Jackson

Trustees

Denise Snider

Web Master

Park Edelweiss

Our Clubhouse

The club is no longer booking private events.

Booking & Inquiries

Directions to Park Edelweiss

Address

3355 Elmhurst Drive
Fort Wayne, IN 46809