In November of 1863, the Schubertbund Teachers’ Choir was founded by Franz Mair and was renamed the Vienna Schubertbund in 1922. In 1935, the male-voice choir, which is still highly regarded today, gave a concert in Rome before Pope Pius IX with 500 singers. Renowned composers like Richard Strauss, Wilhelm Kienzl and Franz Lehàr have dedicated important works to the Wiener Schubertbund. The highlights of the choir’s activities are the “Schubertiads”, which take place every spring in the house where Franz Schubert was born.