World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest and Festival

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World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest and Festival

The World Championship of Old-Time Piano Playing is an annual festival held every Memorial Day Weeke

Every year over Memorial Day weekend in Oxford, Mississippi, the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest is held to provide opportunities for extraordinary performers to compete and to educate people about old-time piano music written prior to 1940. Through the years, the contest has provided more than $60,000 in prize money to more than 500 piano players from across the United States an

d from five foreign countries. The competition consists of the New Rag Contest; Junior Division (up to age 18); Regular Division (over age 18) and Senior Division (age 60+). Contestants vie for cash prizes, trophies and bragging rights for the coming year. A variety of other activities including workshops, a sing-along variety show, dinner with the previous year's Champion, guest artist concerts and top-notch entertainment on the historic Oxford Square each evening. This is a weekend packed with Ragtime, Tin Pan Alley and Standard tunes played by amazing piano players. You don’t have to play piano to enjoy music that will have your toes tapping. You’ll have a blast at the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest.

21/06/2024

Check out the Champaign, IL article on Faye Ballard's success.

Faye Ballard set out for the 2024 World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest planning to bring home a title – or else.

29/05/2024

Forgive the snail pace of my postings but I've been run ragged with clean-up, paying invoices and multiple airport runs. Congratulations to the 2024 Regular Division Champion Paul Orsi ... his third title! In order, the top 5 finalists who all will receive prize money are:

1. Paul Orsi
2. Jean-Baptiste Franc
3. Warren Ertle
4. Zach Mandernach
5. David Cavalari

Thanks to everyone who helped make our 2024 Contest a success!

28/05/2024

Didn’t get the chance to visit us this past weekend or didn’t know about the Livestream? Want to revisit those special moments? You can still access the Livestream for a limited time here. Beginning Friday, relive all of the streamed events for $25.

The 2024 contest Livestream begins Friday, May 24 at 9:00 am and concludes Sunday, May 26 with the Final Round of the Regular Division. Anyone purchasing the livestream in advance will receive an email by Thursday, May 23 with a link to the event. This link will work for all live-streamed presentati...

28/05/2024

Congratulations to someone who has had a long association with the Contest. Give it up for Faye Ballard, 2024 Senior Division Champion!

26/05/2024

It's sad ... but it had to end sometime. Tonight at 7 pm is our closing event for 2024. The Red, White & Blue Party celebrates veterans on Memorial Day weekend and includes a sing-along of all the various service tunes. Lots of great pianists also wait to entertain you. Veterans with ID admitted free. Yoknapatawpha Arts Council Ole Miss Department of Music Visit Oxford SuperTalk North Mississippi 93.7 FM The Local Voice The Oxford Eagle

26/05/2024

The Semifinal & Finals rounds begin this afternoon at 1 pm in Nutt Auditorium. Listen and watch as the Senior Champion is crowned and the Regular Division winner is announced. Big money at stake this afternoon! Ole Miss Department of Music Visit Oxford SuperTalk North Mississippi 93.7 FM Yoknapatawpha Arts Council The Local Voice The Oxford Eagle

26/05/2024

Join us at Oxford University United Methodist Church at 10:45 am this morning for music by three-time Senior Champion Bobby van Deusen both before and during the service. Oxford University United Methodist Church Visit Oxford

26/05/2024

This morning kicks off with a master class for Junior competitors with two-time world champion William McNally working with pianists in Nutt Auditorium at 9 am. Join us! Ole Miss Department of Music

25/05/2024

Here are the junior champions for 2024 along with the judges. Left to right: Judge Judy Carmichael; John Beggs, 1st place; Judge Bill Perry, Jr.; Max Libertor, 3rd place; Judge Todd Robbins; John Patrick Hutchinson, 2nd place. We had a very talented crop of junior competitors this year and all are to be congratulated on their impressive performances!

25/05/2024

Don't miss the Saturday Showcase at the Powerhouse Community Arts Center tonight beginning at 7:30 pm. You'll enjoy an hour with Contest founder Ted Lemen, an old-time Sing-along with Jamie Shannon, Dr. Warren Ertle & the Co**se Revivers playing vintage big band music plus various pianists in performance. Bar available on site. Arts Council Visit Oxford Ole Miss Department of Music SuperTalk North Mississippi 93.7 FM The Oxford Eagle City of Oxford The Local Voice

25/05/2024

Despite a full category of pianist-composers, drawing last in playing order, and two evacuations due to tornado warnings, a hearty congratulations to Thomas Lakeland of Cannock, Great Britain for placing first in the 2024 New Rag Contest!

25/05/2024

Our Southern Catfish Dinner with 3-time Senior Champion Bobby van Deusen begins at 6 pm at the Powerhouse Community Arts Center. The only way to get in is with a ticket so call or show up to see if any spots remain open. Yoknapatawpha Arts Council Little Easy Catering

25/05/2024

We may be sold out but there is only one way to find out if tickets remain, call or drop by the UM Band Hall entrance for the chance to experience Silent Movie classics with live piano accompaniment from 4-time world champion Adam Swanson.

25/05/2024

The contestants are gathered for a final meeting to go over rules and draw for playing order for today. The Preliminary Round features competitors from all age categories playing from 9-11:30 am and resuming at 1 pm until we're done. One price for the entire day-long round. Join us for some great fun music!

25/05/2024

ABC24’s Ruben Diaz headed to the 50th anniversary of the contest to learn more about tickling the ivories.

24/05/2024

Join us for the Tune-ups Party tonight at 8 pm at the Powerhouse Community Arts Center on University Ave. Pianists ages 11-83 scheduled at 10-minute intervals from 8 pm until 11 pm. Tickets available at the door. Yoknapatawpha Arts Council Visit Oxford Mississippi SuperTalk North Mississippi 93.7 FM Ole Miss Department of Music The Local Voice The Oxford Eagle

24/05/2024

Don't miss the opening contest of the weekend at 6 pm tonight in Nutt Auditorium. Having filled to capacity by February, ten composer-pianists premiere their new compositions in the New Rag Contest before our judges. The winner receives $500 plus a trophy.

24/05/2024

Contest artistic director Ian Hominick delivers a presentation at 3 pm in Nutt Auditorium. What does the "classical guy" have to say? Learn how his mentor, Earl Wild, crossed over to the "dark side" of early radio & television, toured with Paul Whiteman and became the first American pianist to establish a long career as a result.

24/05/2024

Curious about some classic tunes got their names? Join entertainer Todd Robbins in Nutt Auditorium at 2 pm this afternoon for an entertaining and enlightening presentation.

24/05/2024

The Mexican Luncheon with live music from 2023 Regular Division champion Paul Orsi begins promptly at 12 noon at the Powerhouse Community Arts Center on University Ave.

24/05/2024

Join pianist Judy Carmichael & guitarist Larry Koonse for an informal session this morning at 9 am in Nutt Auditorium.

23/05/2024

Join us after the concert at The Madhatter Piano Bar for lots of fun! Visit Oxford

23/05/2024

Can't wait to see y'all!

23/05/2024

Judy Carmichael ... TONIGHT! Visit Oxford Ole Miss Department of Music SuperTalk North Mississippi 93.7 FM

23/05/2024

Beware of scams where someone posts about tickets being available for a specific event. They are NOT legit!

22/05/2024

David Cavalari is preparing to compete in the 50th Annual World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest.

22/05/2024

Last call for tickets for the Friday Luncheon with 2023 Champion Paul Orsi. Buy your ticket today! Visit Oxford The Local Voice Arts Council SuperTalk North Mississippi 93.7 FM

22/05/2024

Safe travels! Looking forward to hosting you for a fun-filled four days of great music!

22/05/2024

For those of you driving, please be safe while traveling. Weather will be warm with chance of rainstorms each day. See ya soon!

26/06/2023

We are saddened to announce that long-time Contest supporter Barbara Schuler has passed. Barb Schueller and her husband George saw an article about the piano contest in Sheet Music Magazine in 1986 and decided to come over from near Cincinnati OH to see what it was all about. That was the contest's final year in Monticello, with the Sunday show on the same day as Hands Across America. It was chilly and misty at the Monticello High School football field, site of the contest that year. But, fear of being stuck in the “Hands” traffic and foul weather kept attendance down. After watching three-time-champ-to-be Ron Trotta, a math teacher from Indiana, they returned the next year when the contest moved to the Holiday Inn in Decatur to avoid inclement weather and provide food and lodging at the same place.

After a few years, they wanted to help and Barb wound up on the board and also served as the OMPA Inc. president for many years. Even after she retired from the board and moved to Florida, she came back to Peoria for one weekend, before we decided to find another location or call it quits. She also came to Oxford once before she moved back north to Kentucky with her horses. We appreciate her years of service as an officer and director, and in hosting board meetings in her home, helping with our annual mailings, which sometimes numbered close to 5,000, and being an energetic booster of the contest able to handle all the details. But now we must add her name to the long list of contest people we've lost in just the past couple of years. – Ted Lemen

Address

Old-Time Piano Contest C/o University Of Mississippi Department Of Music

39677-1848

Telephone

+6628012251

Website

http://www.oldtimepianocontest.com/, https://world-championship-old-time-piano.square.site/s/shop

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Videos

The West Coast closing concert featured some terrific musicians including Carl Sonny Leland & Neville Dickie playing St. Louis Blues.

Whiz kid Isaiah Burton playing a portion of the Eubie Blake tune “Poor Jimmy Green.” Isaiah also is playing a number of tribute rags by William Bolcom in a theme set. You may remember that Isaiah participated in our virtual Juniors Showcase during Covid. He is now a freshman at Biola University.

The 2022 New Rag Contest begins at 6 pm tonight in Nutt Auditorium. Don't be late! Here is our latest champion from the 2021 Virtual New Rag Contest – Sam Post performing his "Lighthouse Rag." Ole Miss Department of Music University of Mississippi College of Liberal Arts Yoknapatawpha Arts Council Visit Oxford SuperTalk North Mississippi 93.7 FM