1885. Walter Damrosch appointed conductor of the New York Symphony and Oratorio Societies, on the death of his father, Dr. Leopold Damrosch.
1885. The American Institute of Applied Music established in New York City, by Miss Kate Chittenden.
1885-1916. The Kneisel Quartet organized in Boston. Became well known throughout the United States and Europe.
1886. Jan. 2. Saint-Saëns's "Rhapsodie d'Auvergne" given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1886. Jan. 4. Herman Goetz's opera "The Taming of the Shrew" given in New York City (in English) by the American Opera Company, Theodore Thomas conductor, at the Academy of Music. At this performance Pauline Allemand made her début.
1886. Jan. 4. Wagner's opera "Die Meistersinger" presented at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York City, with Frau Seidl-Krauss as Eva, Marianne Brandt as Magdalena, Emil Fischer as Hans Sachs, Stritt as Walther, Staudigl as Pogner, Kemlitz as Beckmesser, Krämer as David, and Anton Seidl as conductor.
1886. Jan. 9. Dvořák's Second Symphony (D minor) given by the Philharmonic Society, New York City.
1886. Jan. 9. E. Barnard's Violin Concerto in G major, given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra with T. Adamowski as soloist.
1886. Jan. 12. Svendsen's "Norwegian Artists' Carnival" given by Theodore Thomas, in New York City.
1886. Jan. 15. Lalo's "Rhapsodie and Scherzo" played by the Symphony Society, New York City.