William Dressler

Prof. William Dressler was born in Nottingham, England and his father was at one time court flutiest to the King of Saxony. Mr. Dressler was graduated from the Cologne Conservatory of Music in 1847. Shortly after, he was first violinist of the Opera House in Wiesbaden and then became conductor.

He came to this country in the early fifties as solo pianist and accompanist to Ole Bull. After traveling several seasons with concert companies Mr. Dressler settled in New York and devoted himself to teaching, playing in churches and composing. He was a former choirmaster and organist of the Fourth Avenue Presbyterina Church. He played in other churches, among them St. Charles Borromeo’s, St. Peter’s Roman Catholic in Brooklyn, and St. Peter’s iin Jersey City, where he remained for eighteen years . This long term in Catholic churches let him to compose much music for their services and many of his compositions have been used all over the world.

Prof. Dressler was for many years musical editor for the old publishing house of William Hall & Son & J. L. Peters. He is survived by three children, all musicians.

excerpts from New York Times Obituary, July 3, 1914