Danz Family

Frank Danz, Jr. was the first concertmaster of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra and director of the Danz Band and the Danz Orchestra upon the retirement of his father, Frank Danz, Sr., in 1884. Frank, Jr. had been a noted violinist with the Theodore Thomas Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic before his return to the Twin Cities. His father had longed wished that Frank, Jr. would return home and finally accomplished his goal by “bribing” him with the gift of a rare Stradivarius violin.

In 1891 Danz founded a series of band concerts at the Lake Harriet pavilion that became very popular. His orchestra ended their performances during 1902-03. The following season found Danz and most of his men playing in the newly formed Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Emil Oberhoffer.

Frank Danz, Jr. was married to Susan Hoffman and they had eight children, including twin sons Frank J. and Eugene. Frank Danz, Jr. died in 1911.