Julius Stern facts for kids
Julius Stern (born August 8, 1820 – died February 27, 1883) was a talented German musician and teacher. He was Jewish and became famous for his work in music, especially for starting important music groups and schools.
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Julius Stern's Musical Journey
Early Life and Training
Julius Stern was born in a city called Breslau, which is now Wrocław in Poland. He started learning music very early. By the age of nine, he was already playing in concerts!
In 1832, his family moved to Berlin. There, Julius continued his music studies with famous teachers like Ludwig Wilhelm Maurer and Moritz Ganz. He also studied at the Royal Academy of Arts.
Julius wrote several musical pieces while he was a student. King Frederick William IV of Prussia, who loved art, was so impressed that he gave Julius a special scholarship. This money helped Julius continue his studies. He went to Dresden to learn more and then to Paris. In Paris, he became the leader of the German Singing Society. He even conducted important music, like Felix Mendelssohn's music for the ancient Greek play Antigone.
Leading Choirs and Gaining Fame
In 1846, Julius Stern returned to Berlin. The very next year, in 1847, he started his own singing group called the Stern Gesangverein.
His reputation as a top conductor grew quickly after he led the first performance of Mendelssohn's oratorio Elijah in October 1847. An oratorio is a large musical work for voices and orchestra, usually telling a story.
His choir became very popular and grew in size. They performed many classic works by composers like George Frideric Handel, Joseph Haydn, and Johann Sebastian Bach. They also performed music by newer composers of that time. In 1872, the Gesangverein celebrated its 25th anniversary with great excitement. However, just two years later, Julius had to stop leading the group because he was not well.
Founding the Stern Conservatory
Julius Stern also played a huge role in music education. In 1850, he helped start the Stern Conservatory. This was a music school he founded with Theodor Kullak and Adolf Bernhard Marx.
After Kullak left in 1855 and Marx left in 1857, Julius Stern became the sole owner of the school. He managed the conservatory until he passed away. This school became very important for training new musicians.
From 1869 to 1871, he also conducted the Berlin Symphony Orchestra. Later, from 1873 to 1874, he led concerts at the Reichshalle. This gave him a chance to do something he really loved: helping talented young musicians show their work to the public.
Because of his great contributions to music, Julius Stern received special titles. In 1849, he was named "Royal Musical Director," and in 1860, he became a "Professor."
Julius Stern died in Berlin in 1883 when he was 62 years old. His work as a conductor, composer, and educator left a lasting impact on music.
