DAMROSCH, WALTER JOHANNES

(1862-1950)

American conductor of Polish origin. Born in Breslau, he studied harmony, piano and conducting with his fatherLeopold Damrosch. In 1871 he moved to New York with his family, and in 1881 became conductor of the Newark, New Jersey Harmonic Society. In 1885 he succeeded his father at the New York Oratorio Society and the New York Symphony Society. In 1894 he organized the Damorsch Opera company. Subsequently he conducted the New York Symphony Society in the first network broadcast over NBC, and was appointed musical adviser for the network.