The New International Encyclopædia/Zerrahn, Carl

ZER'RAHN, Carl (1820— ). A German-American musician and conductor, born at Malchow, Mecklenburg. He studied music in Hanover and Berlin, and came to America during the Revolution of 1848. Here he became first flute in the Germania Musical Society, which gave concerts in the principal cities of the United States. In 1854 he was made conductor of the Handel and Haydn Society, Boston. For many years he gave at his own financial risk the only orchestral classical concerts in Boston. In 1865 he was appointed conductor of the Harvard Symphony concerts, serving until discontinued in 1882. He was elected conductor of the Oratorio Society of Salem, Mass. (1868), and as the conductor of many of the principal musical festivals held throughout New England exercised an important influence on the musical life of America at large. In addition to his other positions he became a professor at the New England Conservatory of Music. He was especially successful in the presentation of the great oratorios and the management of large choruses.