From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)

Sängerfest or Säengerfest (i.e., singer's festival) is a German cultural festival, first held in the United States in Cincinnati, OH, in 1849.

In 1866 a Sängerfest was held in Louisville, KY; the New York Times reported it was to be the largest festival ever in the U.S. In 1881 a festival was held at the Grand Opera House in Louisville that included Amelia Tilghman, an African American singer, teacher, journalist, poet, and composer. Tilghman had a leading role as the prima donna soprano of the Sängerfest.

Some Colored citizens of Louisville objected because the German term "Säengerfest" had been used by newspapers to name their 1881 Grand Union musical festival. The committee members of the 1881 Louisville Colored Säengerfest were William H. Gibson, president; H. C. Weeden, secretary, and N. R. Hapen, musical director. Hundreds of singers were expected to perform.

For more see The Encyclopedia Britannica: a dictionary of arts, sciences, literature, and general information, volume VI, by H. Chisholm (1910) [available online at Google Books]; "The Louisville Sangerfest," New York Times, 7/20/1866, p. 5; Amelia Tilghman in Piano Music by Black women composers, by H. Walker-Hill; The Music of Black Americans: a history, by E. Southern; "Louisville Saengerfest," People's Advocate, 1/29/1881, p. 1; and "Louisville item. The Saengerfest," People's Advocate, 5/14/1881, p. 2.