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Joseph Rosenberg (1876-1952)was born in Semionevka, Chernigova, Gubernya, Ukraine and served in the Russian Army from 1898-1900. His music ability earned him an assignment in the army band. He was appointed an officer and served as Kapellmeister (concert master). Achieving this rank was an extraordinary achievement for a Jewish person, since Jewish men generally were not allowed to attain the rank of officer. In the band, he played the cornet and the bass fiddle. In 1904, his mother arranged for him to be smuggled through Poland and Germany to avoid re-conscription. He arrived in New York City in November 1904 on board the ship "The Bremen."