A few months after his arrival in the USA, violinist Friedrich Polnauer appeared alongside other artists such as pianist Martha Pollak and cellist Leo Rostal in a concert titled A Night of Refugee Stars given at the Institutional Synagogue in New York. The concert was one of a series organised by the Placement Committee for German and Austrian Musicians. The purpose of these events was to offer immigrant musicians an opportunity to earn money and network with others.

The charity promoted the concerts using the slogan “Europe’s Loss – Our Gain”. However, the “stars” who had fled from Europe were not universally welcome. The job market for musicians in major cities like New York was already saturated; in smaller towns, regional trade unions often blocked employers from hiring immigrants.

Many émigrés in other professions who were unable to obtain U.S. work permits and wanted to make a living as musicians also tried to secure the support of the Placement Committee. For this reason, the Committee subjected its clientèle to close scrutiny. Former engineer Friedrich Polnauer benefited from the five years of experience he had gained as a violinist in the Jewish Cultural Federation’s orchestra in Berlin. Through the charity’s mediation, he eventually secured a post as the leader of an orchestra in South Carolina.

Further reading:
Rempe, Martin: Kunst, Spiel, Arbeit. Musikerleben in Deutschland, 1850 bis 1960. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht 2020, S. 274-178