Make plans now to attend the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival May 30, 2018 - June 2, 2018 in Sedalia, Missouri! This four-day musical celebration takes place throughout historic downtown Sedalia with both free and paid concerts. Internationally renowned musicians such as Richard Dowling, Bill Edwards, Evan Arntzen, Jeff Barnhart, Danny Coots, Marty Eggers, The Rhythmia, Virginia Techenor, Matt Tolentino, Steve Pikal and many more will be on hand to perform live. Don’t miss live concerts celebrating the melodious compositions from the Missouri Valley, lovingly referred to as the “Cradle of Ragtime.” Listen to rags and a wonderful collection of classic and folk ragtime by Scott Joplin, James Scott, Brun Campbell, Charles Johnson, John William “Blind” Boone.
Events will include free outdoor venues, 8 ticketed concert events, a “Toast to Ragtime” bus tour lead noted Ragtime historian Ed Berlin, a Symposia series, ‘live’ silent films, a Japanese Tea Ceremony, a Ragtime pub crawl, the Cake Walk dance, a fashion show, parade, and much more!
In 2018, the work of the talented Martin Spitznagel will be featured. Besides being an incredible pianist, Martin is a master composer and arranger, Billy Mayerl enthusiast, and former World Old-Time piano playing champion! Don’t miss this highlight of the festival, a 2 hour spotlight solo concert at the Sedalia Liberty Center.
David Reffkin and Bill McNally will give a class on how ragtime music began, including types of music that evolved into the form, and the social implications and influences. Musical and visual examples will accompany.
Bryan Wright and Martin Spitznagel will conduct a session explaining what ragtime music is, and how it got the nation and the world through the 1900’s and 1910’s while spawning a lot of spin-offs which influenced American music.
Two comedic ‘silent films’ will be accompanied by Jeff Banhart at the Sedalia Liberty Center.
Attend the Ragtime Dance at Cakewalk Hall dressed in your finest 1900’s era clothing and have a grand old time kicking up your heels! This year’s dance will be accompanied by the world-famous Holland-Coots Jazz Quintet. Appetizers and champagne will be served!
Chado (The Way of Tea), is a traditional Japanese art involving the ritualistic preparation of tea. Influenced by the philosophy of Zen Buddhism, the core teaching of chado is to attain a spiritual state of selflessness and peacefulness through making and sharing tea. Join Yuko Eguchi to learn the history and philosophy of the Japanese tea ceremony while tasting Japanese tea and sweets. Yuko is a native of Tokyo, Japan and holds a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology, she has received the Tea Master title and the Associate Professor of Tea title.
Through the festival, Sedalia’s Katy Depot hosts ten unique display cases, and three placards, featuring important aspects of Sedalia in the Ragtime Era, 1895-1904. See why Joplin and his colleagues came to Sedalia and returned frequently during the initial period of their compositional creativity.
For more information or to purchase tickets please call 660-826-2271 or visit
www.scottjoplin.org.
Photo ©Randy Kirby
National Soap Box Derby Race Championships
The National Derby Rallies, Inc. is a soap box derby association organized in 1977 for the purpose of fostering individual development in youths through a structured program of soap box derby-type racing and related activities. The program was designed to give families involved in gravity powered, amateur-built race cars, numerous opportunities to race throughout the year.
The event is scheduled for June 30 - July 4, 2018 at the MO State Fairgrounds.
