Otto Sutro was a German-born American organist, conductor, minor composer, publisher

Publishing

Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...

 and music store owner, and a leading figure in the musical life of Baltimore

Baltimore

Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...

, Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...

.

Sutro was born in Aachen

Aachen

Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...

, Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

. He studied the organ with Nicolas Lemmens in Brussels

Brussels

Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...

 and moved to the United States in 1851, undertaking further studies at the Peabody Institute

Peabody Institute

The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University is a renowned conservatory and preparatory school located in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland at the corner of Charles and Monument Streets at Mount Vernon Place.-History:...

.

He hosted a musical appreciation society known as the Wednesday Club. With fellow alum Fritz Finke, Sutro helped found the Oratorio Society of Baltimore

Oratorio Society of Baltimore

The Oratorio Society of Baltimore was founded by Otto Sutro in 1882, with Fritz Finke as music director. Its first performance came in 1885.In 1892, Finke left the Oratorio Society to return to Germany. Mr. Sutro contacted Joseph Pache, a German conservatory professor in New York, to succeed Finke...

, and became its main conductor.

He married Arianna Handy, a pianist, singer, and daughter of a former chief justice of Mississippi. His brother Adolph Sutro

Adolph Sutro

Adolph Heinrich Joseph Sutro was the 24th mayor of San Francisco, and second Jewish mayor, serving in that office from 1894 until 1896...

 became Mayor of San Francisco, and built the Sutro Baths

Sutro Baths

The Sutro Baths were a large, privately owned swimming pool complex in San Francisco, California, built in the late 19th century. The building housing the baths burned down in 1966 and was abandoned. The ruins may still be visited.- History :...

.

Sutro sat for portrait artist David Dalhoff Neal

David Dalhoff Neal

David Dalhoff Neal , was an American artist.-Early years:David Dalhoff Neal was born to father Stephen Bryant Neal and mother Mary Neal, on Middlesex Street, in Lowell, Massachusetts...

 in 1889 (see image).
Rapheal Tuck & Son created a litho art card Charactor Otto Sutro
His daughters Rose and Ottilie Sutro

Rose and Ottilie Sutro

Rose Sutro and Ottilie Sutro were American sisters who were notable as one of the first recognised duo-piano teams. It has been claimed they were the first such team, but Willi and Louis Thern preceded them by almost 30 years...

were the first recognised piano-duo team.