Henry Donch | |
|---|---|
 Donch, c. 1900s–1910s | |
| Born | 1834 |
| Died | March 10, 1919 (aged 85) Washington, D.C., United States |
| Resting place | Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C. |
| Occupation | Bandleader |
| Years active | 1850s–1910s |
| Spouse |
Elizabeth Brandt (m. 1856) |
| Children | 6 |
Henry Donch (1834 – March 10, 1919) was a German-American bandleader and music instructor. Born in Hesse-Kassel, he immigrated to Philadelphia in 1854. Shortly afterwards, he became organist for the United States Naval Academy Band in Annapolis. He joined the United States Marine Band as a clarinet player shortly before the outbreak of the American Civil War. In 1865, he played in the orchestra at Ford's Theatre. In the early 1870s, he retired from the Marine Band and formed Donch's Band (German: Donsche Musikkapelle), which he would lead for the following four decades. Donch himself was the only consistent member of the band, with the other members frequently rotating. For 23 years, he also worked as a music professor at Georgetown University. In 1919, he died at his home in Washington, D.C., and was buried at Rock Creek Cemetery.