TheWetzler Symphony Orchestra was founded in New York City by theFrankfurt born conductor and composerHermann Hans Wetzler.

Wetzler, who studied at theHoch Conservatory in Frankfurt, settled in New York City for a time and formed the symphony orchestra in 1903. Wetzler invitedRichard Strauss to the city to conduct his orchestra in a "Strauss Festival", which would include most of his symphonic works. Strauss and Wetzler conducted this orchestra in this concert series beginning on 27 February 1904 inCarnegie Hall. This series included Strauss conducting the premiere of hisSymphonia Domestica on 21 March. Strauss required 15 rehearsals before he was satisfied with the orchestra's playing. On 19 March, the orchestra broke down in the middle ofDon Quixote.^[1]

Strauss also led the orchestra before a crowd of 6,000 in performances on 16 and 18 of April, 1904 inWanamaker's New York store. The orchestra was short-lived, as Wetzler returned to Germany in 1905.

• ”Herman Wetzler, Composer, 72, Dies”The New York Times, May 30, 1943, page 26.
• ”Music in America”, The Musical Times, April 1, 1904, page 249.
• Tyler, Linda L. “Commerce and Poetry Hand in Hand: Music in American Department Stores, 1880–1930, page 80-81.

• Disbanded American orchestras
• Musical groups established in 1903
• Musical groups disestablished in 1905
• 1903 establishments in New York City
• 1905 disestablishments in New York (state)
• Orchestras based in New York City

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