World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest & Festival
The World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest & Festival returns to Oxford, MS May 25-28, 2017 for its 43rd season. After 41 years in Illinois, this contest and festival moved to its new home at The University of Mississippi in May, 2016. Our first season in Oxford welcomed visitors and contestants from twenty-eight states as well as Mexico and Canada. Held annually to coincide with Memorial Day weekend, this event has become truly international in scope, boasting the largest, most comprehensive competitive events for pianists steeped in the musical genres of ragtime, traditional jazz and blues. Students up to age 18 can compete for cash prizes and trophies in the Junior Division while the Regular Division contestants vie for trophies and larger prizes totaling $6,000. Performers compete in period costume, are interviewed before each round, and show their incredible musical skills in an attempt to advance to the Finals. Complete rules and guidelines are posted on the event web site. Smaller contests precede the main competition. These include a New Rag Contest and Duet Contest. Workshops by acclaimed guest artists and the PianoStravaganza, including a sing-along of the old classics, are held around the competitions. Off-site excursions, catered events and the "Ring of Ragtime" at the Oxford University Club on the historic Oxford Square add a refreshing dimension to the festivities. If you love ragtime, jazz, blues, honky-tonk, boogie or novelty songs from the days of Tin Pan Alley, then you'll have the time of your life in Oxford on Memorial Day weekend. To capture the flavor of this event, visit "The Entertainers" trailer on line at http://theentertainersmovie.com. For a fun-filled four days of fabulous music, go to http://oldtimepianocontest.com and register for this year's World Championship. Find us on Facebook for regular updates, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @oldtimepiano. Ticket packages and individual event tickets are available for purchase on line from the event web site or through the UM Box Office. Order forms may be requested by contacting the artistic director Ian Hominick at (662) 915-1282 or oldtimepianocontest@olemiss.edu. Guest artists for this year include four-time champion Adam Swanson, Paul Asaro, Tom McDermott and Bryan Wright. There is something for everyone during this family-friendly weekend. We'll see you in Oxford May 25-28, 2017 for a fun-filled weekend of old-time music!
Date and Time
Thursday May 25, 2017 Sunday May 28, 2017
Opening event begins at 7 pm on May 25. Multiple events run throughout Memorial Day weekend through the evening of May 28.
Location
Daytime events hosted in Nutt Auditorium on the Ole Miss campus at 350 University Ave. Evening events located at the Oxford University Club on the Oxford Square.
Fees/Admission
Tickets available from: http://olemissboxoffice.com Prices vary with each event. Single tickets or ticket packages available. See web site for event descriptions.
Website
Contact Information
Ian Hominick, Artistic Director
Dept. of Music
University of Mississippi
PO Box 1848
University, MS 38677-1848
Tel. (662) 915-1282
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