After one year's instruction it was found that the girls had advanced so rapidly as to have quite "caught up" with their teachers (their parents), and it was therefore found necessary to place them under the instruction of others more advanced in music. Professor Hugo Sank, a German of fine musical ability, became then their next tutor, giving them lessons in vocalization and on the piano-forte. With this gentleman they made much progress. Another change, however, being decided upon, our apt and ambitious pupils were next placed under the direction of Madame Josephine D'Ormy, a lady of fine talents, an operatic celebrity, and distinguished as a skillful teacher. From this lady the sisters received thorough instruction in the Italian language, and were taught some of the rudiments of the German language. It is, in fact, to the rare accomplishments and painstaking efforts of Madame D'Ormy that the Misses Hyers owe mostly their success of to-day. For she it was who taught them that purity of enunciation and sweetness of intonation that are now so noticeable in their singing of Italian and other music; while under her guidance, also, they acquired that graceful, winning stage appearance for which they have so often been praised. Although, as was natural, quite proud of the rich natural gifts possessed by their children, and extremely delighted with the large degree of their acquirements in the art of music, their sensible parents were in no haste to rush them before the public, and it was therefore nearly two years after leaving the immediate tutelage of Madame D'Ormy when these young ladies made their debut. They also went to San Francisco and other places in California, where they gained great renown. After these concerts they retired to severe study preparatory to making a tour of the States. Finally deciding to proceed Bast, they sang to highly appreciative and enthusiastic audiences in several Western towns and cities. At Salt Lake City they were received with the very highest marks of favor. On the 12th of August, 1871, they gave a grand concert in Salt Lake Theatre, offering some five operatic selections.
The Daily Herald, of St. Joseph, Mo., had the following to say concerning them:
Whoever of our readers failed to visit the Academy of Music last evening missed a rare musical treat. The concert of the Hyers Sisters was absolutely the best; furnished those in attendance with the choicest music which has been in St. Joseph since we have resided here.
