William Boeppler was born in Pferdsfeld, Germany, on 21 February 1863, where he
studied piano beginning at the age of six. His first public performances occurred at
age 12. Boeppler went on to study theology, philosophy, history, languages, and
music at the Universities of Leipzig and Bonn. During this period, he worked under
famous musicians and composers such as Arnold Mendelssohn. After his graduation in
1887, Boeppler became a minister in a town near Cologne, Germany, where he directed
his first chorus. He worked as a minister for several years, after which he moved to
Milwaukee in 1894.
A year after his arrival in Milwaukee, Boeppler organized the Milwaukee A Capella
Chorus and directed it until his death. During this time, he was also the Musical
Editor of the Milwaukee Herold and the Germania, both German-language newspapers. In 1899,
along with Hugo Kaun and Louis Frank, Boeppler founded the Wisconsin Conservatory of
Music. The school quickly grew to attract famous musicians from around the world. In
1902, he founded the original iteration of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
However, the orchestra only lasted until 1904, when Boeppler moved to Chicago and it
disintegrated without a leader.
After his move to Chicago, Boeppler remained active in the German community. In 1904,
he directed the Germania Club and the Turner Maennerchor, while visiting Milwaukee
two days a week. In 1910 Boeppler organized the Chicago Singverein [concert choir]
and took charge of the First National Bank Chorus and the Birchwood Ladies chorus.
In 1925, he also took charge of the Bethany Evangelical Church choir and the Chicago
Bach Chorus. After leading the Chicago Turngemeinde orchestra during the 1914-1915
season, Boeppler founded his own orchestra – the Boeppler Symphony Orchestra. He
died 11 December 1928.
