Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison McDonald.
Hi Madison, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Nashville Edelweiss Gemeinschaft (Nashville German Club) is a group of people in middle Tennessee and beyond with an affinity for German-American culture and traditions. No need to claim German heritage to join: your interest and camaraderie is more than enough! Whether through dance, song, sport, history, or simply getting together for a drink, our goal is to foster community through a shared interest in the cultural heritage of German-speaking groups.
In 2024, shortly after Kathleen Martini moved to Nashville, she reached out to Bavarian Bierhaus, (Nashville’s Only Authentic German Bierhall), expressing her interest in starting a German Club. Madison McDonald (Marketing Coordinator) & Joe McCarrol (COO) of the Bierhaus immediately responded and set up a meeting with her. The group discussed their shared vision of the club, and established it as a 501c(4) non-profit organization.
President & Founder Kathleen Martini’s grandparents hail from the Batschka region of the former Yugoslavia, where German speakers settled in the 1700s. She grew up dancing for the Trenton Donauschwaben and is still an active member of several national and international clubs, leading and competing in traditional folk dance.
Secretary & Co-Founder Madison McDonald spent the first 3 years of her life in Bad Windsheim, Germany, where her father was stationed with the US Army. There, she made close family friends and fell in love with the country and it’s culture. She feels a close sense of home within her German Community and has since discovered many German Ancestors.
Co-Founder Joe McCarrol, a second-generation German, is passionate about hospitality, and building community. In fall of 2025 Joe stepped down as Vice President to fulfill his dream of acquiring his German citizenship. While he spent his formative years in Mount Juliet, he now resides in Bad Salzschlirf, a charming town near Fulda where his mother’s family still lives.
Vice President Joseph Bican embodies the vibrant spirit of Gemütlichkeit (kinda like Southern Hospitality). His grandmother’s German heritage laid the foundation for his deep appreciation of the German Culture which was further solidified during his decade-long membership with the Donauschwaben of Cleveland.
In January of 2025, this group of quick friends hosted their first Meeting, establishing about 30 members. The first to be invited of course was the Stein Club. This group of German-Americans and Bier enthusiasts alike meet every Tuesday at the Stammtisch (Regulars Table) at Bavarian Bierhaus, to share a few liters, and many laughs.
As of summer 2026, Nashville Edelweiss Gemeinschaft boasts 70+ members, regularly operating out of and with the assistance of Bavarian Bierhaus. The group leads 2 monthly dance workshops, and quarterly member meetings. They regularly plan group outings to local events and festivals, and are establishing the ground work to perform at German Festivals such as Nashville Oktoberfest, Cullman Oktoberfest & Christkindlmarkt, ect. Many members meet up to teach and learn German, watch soccer together, and even learn how to make traditional German folkwear called Trachten.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting a German cultural organization in the South was never going to be an easy endeavor: while the similar organizations in the Midwest and Northeast were founded by immigrants coming directly from Europe in order to learn English, help each other with citizenship matters, and share a culture from “back home”, we’re attempting to start the ball rolling from a group who have been here for years if not generations. We’ve had to educate our potential members on why this club should even exist and have been operating off a “you’ll love it once you get here” mentality of pulling people in. Things we didn’t even consider – like a logo with flowers on it not appealing to certain male members – have come up that we have had to learn how to handle in real time. It’s been a slog at times but a lot of fun even in those moments where it seemed like no one would come. Even then, we looked at each other on the first meeting day and said “even if no one shows up, at least we did it for us.”
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In my daily life, I’m an entertainment lawyer at a firm in Nashville. I represent music industry clients in all manners of law, focusing on contract and corporate work. It’s a bit of a shock to people from the German world to learn that I’m a lawyer, and similar to the legal world when they learn about my background in German folk dance. -Kathleen Martini | President & Founder
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
There is little I love more than Dancing, but speaking on a microphone comes close. I don’t even know how it happens; I’m suddenly standing on a stage with one in my hand.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nashvillegerman.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/nashvillegermanclub
