The Maennerchor is a singing society that is still active in Indianapolis today and is one of the oldest continuously-active singing societies in the country. It was founded in 1854 by a group of young men of German descent and came to be an important contributor to Indianapolis culture. The Maennerchor sponsored musical events of national importance and brought in famous musicians from around the world. Non-singing members joined the organization simply for its social aspects, such as the masked balls it occasionally held. Other musical societies, such as the Harmonie and Lyra, offered some competition for the Maennerchor, but most were either absorbed by it or disappeared after a few years. The Maennerchor flourished under the direction of men like Carl Barus and Alexander Ernestinoff, and its progress benefited greatly from the generosity of John P. Frenzel.