Your 2025 Performers
Paul Orsi
Paul is a ragtime pianist and composer, brings a unique high-energy style to America's first popular music. From a young age, Paul has performed professionally in many venues, including Shakey's Pizza Parlors, Clearman's Northwood's Inn, and most notabaly, a 10-year engagement as the DisneylandCoke Corner pianist. A three-time winner of the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest, Paul has appeared in several California Ragtime Festivals: West Coast Ragtime Festival, The San Diego Jazz Festival, The Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival and Ragfest in Orange County. He now resides with his wife Sharon, in Surprise, Arizona.
Paul earned his Master's Degree in music composition from UC Riverside. His "Street" education comes from personal interaction for over 40 years with many notable Ragtime Performers: Dick Zimmerman, Max Morath, Eubie Blake, Sally Stanford, Rod Miller, Judy Carmichael, Johnny Hodges, Jim Omohundro, Jim Hession, Frederick Hodges, Tom Brier, Stephanie Trick, Paulo Alderighi,and Adam Swanson to name a few. Paul attributes much of his stylistic flair to these exceptional musicians and honors their legacy thourgh his playing.
Paul is a ragtime pianist and composer, brings a unique high-energy style to America's first popular music. From a young age, Paul has performed professionally in many venues, including Shakey's Pizza Parlors, Clearman's Northwood's Inn, and most notabaly, a 10-year engagement as the DisneylandCoke Corner pianist. A three-time winner of the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest, Paul has appeared in several California Ragtime Festivals: West Coast Ragtime Festival, The San Diego Jazz Festival, The Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival and Ragfest in Orange County. He now resides with his wife Sharon, in Surprise, Arizona.
Paul earned his Master's Degree in music composition from UC Riverside. His "Street" education comes from personal interaction for over 40 years with many notable Ragtime Performers: Dick Zimmerman, Max Morath, Eubie Blake, Sally Stanford, Rod Miller, Judy Carmichael, Johnny Hodges, Jim Omohundro, Jim Hession, Frederick Hodges, Tom Brier, Stephanie Trick, Paulo Alderighi,and Adam Swanson to name a few. Paul attributes much of his stylistic flair to these exceptional musicians and honors their legacy thourgh his playing.
Carl Sonny Leyland
Carl Sonny Leyland was born & raised on the South Coast of England, growing up close to the city of Southampton. As a child he was drawn to the American music which he heard on LP records his father would play. It was here that he developed an appreciation for Dixieland jazz, the rock & roll of the 1950s & the country music of Jimmie Rodgers & Hank Williams. At age 15 Leyland discovered boogie woogie when he heard a school friend working through a written arrangement of a tune called JD's Boogie Woogie (Marvin Wright). Captivated by the sound of the repeating 8 to the bar left hand pattern, Leyland was inspired to go to the piano & begin on a path that would become his life's purpose. Within 3 months he would be performing in public & shortly after would become a member of a respected local group "The Bob Pearce Blues Band."
Initially influenced by boogie woogie greats Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson & Meade 'Lux' Lewis, Leyland went on to fully explore the piano blues genre, becoming an authority on early & obscure styles such as those played by Cow Cow Davenport, Little Brother Montgomery, Montana Taylor & Speckled Red to name a few. Leyland has also continued his involvement with the rockabilly scene & plays each year in the backing band at Viva Las Vegas & more recently at the Summer Jamboree in Senegalia, Italy. In this capacity he has worked with such notables as Janis Martin, Ruth Brown, Billy Lee Riley & Carl Mann. (See 'Career History' page for a complete list of artists). Whether playing solo or with his trio, Leyland's playing displays an infectious spontaneity, providing plenty of surprises for the listener. While he possesses the necessary vocabulary to pay tribute to the greats of old, he refuses to be limit himself to this & prefers to let each performance be an opportunity to say something new.
Michael Chisholm
Michael is originally from Houston, Texas, but now living in Southern California, and grew up in a musically appreciative family. His first music training was in middle school, where he learned to play the xylophone and marimba. Eventually, he graduated to piano. Michael's first exposure to ragtime was watching JoAnn Castle play on a rerun of the Lawrence Welk Show. From that moment, he knew ragtime was his style of music. Since then, he has composed over 50 rags and has started collecting the original prints of ragtime sheet music. Besides piano, Michael likes to rag out on the flute, piccolo, and clarine
Frederick Hodges
Hailed by the press as one of the best concert pianists in the world, Frederick Hodges is sought after by today’s foremost orchestras, festivals, conductors, and collaborative musicians. His artistry, virtuosity and charisma have brought him to the world’s most renowned stages, leaving audiences around the globe captivated.
Classically trained as a concert pianist, Frederick Hodges has established a reputation as a truly versatile artist equally sought after as soloist, singer, guest soloist with the California Pops Orchestra, and dance band pianist with Don Neely’s Royal Society Jazz Orchestra. His extensive repertoire includes all the best ragtime, stride, and novelty piano solo pieces. He has appeared on national television, radio, and in several Hollywood films. He is also a much sought-after silent film accompanist for both live performances and on DVD. He performs regularly at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum. Frederick has participated in many prestigious festivals including in Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, the WestCoast Ragtime Festival, The Blind Boone Festival in Columbia Missouri, the Templeton Ragtime Festival at Mississippi State University, the El Segundo Ragtime Festival, and the Sedalia Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival. His website is: www.frederickhodges.com.
Danny Coots
Danny Coots in 1964 was just six years of age when he began playing drums in upstate New York. Since then, he has studied with Nick Baffaro, Rich Holly, Alan Koffman and Jim Petercsak in percussion. Danny attended The Crane School of Music and St. Lawrence University. He eventually served as adjunct faculty at St. Lawrence University, Clarkson University and Potsdam State University from the 1970s into the 1990s.
He continued traveling and performing with David Amram, Ray Shiner, Daniel Pinkham, Herb Ellis, Will Alger, Jack Mayhue, Speigle Wilcox, Mimi Hines, Phil Ford, Bob Darch, Pearl Kaufman and Arthur Duncan.
In 1996 Danny moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and has lived there ever since. Danny has recorded extensively in Nashville, New York and L.A. and has appeared in over 100 countries. He has played on over 100 recordings, one of which won a Grammy in 2005.
After moving to Tennessee, Danny joined the Jack Daniel's Silver Cornet Band for five years and helped found the Titan Hot Seven. During this time he played and recorded with Dick Hyman, Houston Person, Bob Wilber, Johnny Varro, Jeff Coffin, Tim Laughlin, Harry Allen, Dave Hungate, Bill Allred, John Allred, Randy Reinhart, Ron Hockett, John Cocuzzi, John Sheridan, Dan Barrett, Vince Giordano, Rebecca Kilgore, Ken Peplowski, Duke Heitger, Neville Dickie, Bob Shultz, Nicki Parrott, Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli, Yve Evans, Chuck Hedges, Warren Vache and Allen Vache to name a few.
Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra
40+ years ago a pair of music teachers on the Pacific Coast delved into a trunk full of vintage rags and 20th century dance arrangements. They brought together musicians from the coastal regions south of San Francisco to read the rare arrangements, and the Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra was born!
A staple at ragtime and jazz festivals through the years, the orchestra continues to offer spirited, authentic interpretations of such ragtime legends as Scott Joplin, Joseph Lamb, Eubit Blake, James Scott, Percy Wenrich, Irving Berlin, and more.
Members from Left to Right: Susanne Wong, Micheal Chisholm, Judy McGill, Sue Horn, Bryan Gayek, Adam Roderick, Mike Young, Mike Hart and James Rogers
40+ years ago a pair of music teachers on the Pacific Coast delved into a trunk full of vintage rags and 20th century dance arrangements. They brought together musicians from the coastal regions south of San Francisco to read the rare arrangements, and the Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra was born!
A staple at ragtime and jazz festivals through the years, the orchestra continues to offer spirited, authentic interpretations of such ragtime legends as Scott Joplin, Joseph Lamb, Eubit Blake, James Scott, Percy Wenrich, Irving Berlin, and more.
Members from Left to Right: Susanne Wong, Micheal Chisholm, Judy McGill, Sue Horn, Bryan Gayek, Adam Roderick, Mike Young, Mike Hart and James Rogers
Stevens Price
Stevens Price is the co- founder, with Keith Taylor, of the Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival, and former owner of the Sutter Creek Ice Cream Emporium. He took back the reins reigns, five years ago and decided that after 20 years it should be called: "The Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival". He is the Master of Ceremonies for the festival where he can sing out some ragtime tunes as well as play them on the piano.
He began his musical career by singing in his church choir at age 8. Began playing the piano after hearing his Dad working on some Boogie Woogie. Soon music was an integral part of his growing up. Choirs, musical theater, concerts. He studied music and drama in college where he met his wife. He frequented the Maple Leaf Club in Los Angeles and grew to love ragtime music. Opening the Ice Cream Emporium in 1997, he brought in a player piano and soon acquired hundreds of rolls. The emporium was the ragtime center of the foothills. The Sierra Foothills Ragtime Society met there every other month until the Ice Cream Store closed it's doors for good. A legacy that Stevens started but still lives on in the hearts of so many in the town. In March of '22 he retired from the Post Office in Sutter Creek where he was known as the "Singing Mailman". He currently has a Harvest Table rental business based out of Sutter Creek. The Town of Sutter Creek will always be a part of His Life.
Richard Dowling
Hailed by The New York Times as “an especially impressive fine pianist,” Richard
Dowling performs throughout America in solo recitals, at music festivals, and as guest
soloist with symphony orchestras, and has performed concerts in the Far East, South
America, Australia, Africa, and Europe. Works of Chopin, Debussy, Joplin, Gershwin,
Gottschalk, Ravel, ragtime, and early jazz figure prominently in his repertoire. Reviews
praise him as “a master of creating beautiful sounds with impeccable control of colors
and textures,” as “a musician with something to say, the skill to say it and the magnetic
power to make you want to listen,” and for giving “a superb recital that left the audience
craving for more at the end.” He is a versatile recording artist with over a dozen CDs of
classical, chamber, ragtime, jazz, and popular music, including two with his frequent duo-
piano partner Frederick Hodges. On April 1, 2017 Mr. Dowling performed the complete
piano works of Scott Joplin in historic twin sold-out recitals at Carnegie Hall, exactly 100
years to the day Joplin died in New York. He is the first pianist in the world to perform
the Joplin cycle – 53 rags, waltzes, marches and cakewalks – nearly four hours of music,
all from memory. His Complete Piano Works of Scott Joplin 3-CD album was nominated
for a Grammy Award. The late ragtime pianist Max Morath said, “Richard Dowling’s
mastery of the Joplin rags invokes a tenderness that charms us and a technical command
that inspires our admiration.” Mr. Dowling resides in New York and is a Steinway Artist.
Visit his website at www.parkerartists.com/Richard-Dowling.html.
Hailed by The New York Times as “an especially impressive fine pianist,” Richard
Dowling performs throughout America in solo recitals, at music festivals, and as guest
soloist with symphony orchestras, and has performed concerts in the Far East, South
America, Australia, Africa, and Europe. Works of Chopin, Debussy, Joplin, Gershwin,
Gottschalk, Ravel, ragtime, and early jazz figure prominently in his repertoire. Reviews
praise him as “a master of creating beautiful sounds with impeccable control of colors
and textures,” as “a musician with something to say, the skill to say it and the magnetic
power to make you want to listen,” and for giving “a superb recital that left the audience
craving for more at the end.” He is a versatile recording artist with over a dozen CDs of
classical, chamber, ragtime, jazz, and popular music, including two with his frequent duo-
piano partner Frederick Hodges. On April 1, 2017 Mr. Dowling performed the complete
piano works of Scott Joplin in historic twin sold-out recitals at Carnegie Hall, exactly 100
years to the day Joplin died in New York. He is the first pianist in the world to perform
the Joplin cycle – 53 rags, waltzes, marches and cakewalks – nearly four hours of music,
all from memory. His Complete Piano Works of Scott Joplin 3-CD album was nominated
for a Grammy Award. The late ragtime pianist Max Morath said, “Richard Dowling’s
mastery of the Joplin rags invokes a tenderness that charms us and a technical command
that inspires our admiration.” Mr. Dowling resides in New York and is a Steinway Artist.
Visit his website at www.parkerartists.com/Richard-Dowling.html.
Anthony Sarginson
Pianist
Extraordinaire
2019 recipient of the Historic Sutter Creek ragtime Festival Scholarship
Anthony Sarginson is a versatile pianist and composer who specializes in both ragtime music and post-romanticism. After an awe-struck meeting at the 2015 Historic Sutter Creek Festival he took up piano lessons at age 13 and decided at that moment he would live his life only for the sake of music and the inspiration of others. Currently, Sarginson studies under the tutelage of Dr. Peter Klimo, who has guided him through various performance opportunities, such as masterclasses with world-class musicians, Marc-André Hamelin, Garrick Ohlsson, Richard Goode, Dr. Andrew Park, Dr. Daniel Kuehler, Nahre Sol and has helped him gain mastery of Sergei Rachmaninoff's Second piano concerto. He was also a member of the Wind Symphony of Clovis, the Fresno State Symphony Orchestra, and was awarded the “Best Singer-Piano Duo” prize alongside graduate student Miranda Barton, as part of the annual Art Song Festival at his university. He plans on continuing his education at Fresno State to complete his Master’s degree in hopes to one day teach at a university-level.
Kevin Gunia
Kevin Gunia is a composer, pianist, and educator. He strives to create compelling works and performances by studying and reacting to the musical past, particularly the 20th century. He believes in the importance of passing on knowledge and experience to the next generation of musicians. He has been commissioned to write for ~Nois Saxophone Quartet and the Boulder Altitude Directive. He has also written for the Ivalas Quartet, currently in residence at the Juilliard School. His Second String Quartet won the Graduate Composition Award at the University of Colorado Boulder. He was the recipient of the George Lynn Memorial Award.
As a pianist, Gunia places an emphasis on 20th and 21st century American music. He has been a featured performer at the West Coast Ragtime Festival (Sacramento, CA) and the Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival (Sutter Creek, CA). He plays in a four-hands duo with Michael Chisholm, and a two-piano ensemble with Michael Chisholm and Frederick Hodges called The Pianophiends. He has also performed with The Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra.
Gunia is currently a Ph.D. student in Music Composition at the University of Oregon. He graduated with a master's degree from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Kevin Gunia is a composer, pianist, and educator. He strives to create compelling works and performances by studying and reacting to the musical past, particularly the 20th century. He believes in the importance of passing on knowledge and experience to the next generation of musicians. He has been commissioned to write for ~Nois Saxophone Quartet and the Boulder Altitude Directive. He has also written for the Ivalas Quartet, currently in residence at the Juilliard School. His Second String Quartet won the Graduate Composition Award at the University of Colorado Boulder. He was the recipient of the George Lynn Memorial Award.
As a pianist, Gunia places an emphasis on 20th and 21st century American music. He has been a featured performer at the West Coast Ragtime Festival (Sacramento, CA) and the Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival (Sutter Creek, CA). He plays in a four-hands duo with Michael Chisholm, and a two-piano ensemble with Michael Chisholm and Frederick Hodges called The Pianophiends. He has also performed with The Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra.
Gunia is currently a Ph.D. student in Music Composition at the University of Oregon. He graduated with a master's degree from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Squeek Steele
Squeek Steele is globally notorious for her wide-ranging expertise at the piano. Classically trained, she long ago branched out into musical styles like Ragtime, Honky-Tonk and traditional Jazz, as well as composing soundtracks for documentaries, musicals and folk opera.
She's a sought after entertainer, playing gigs (In every imaginable musical style) in Berlin, Singapore, Hong Kong and all over the United States. Her recordings have been selling well for decades.
She's also in the Guinness Bool of World Records for "The most pieces of music performed from memory". In 1998, in Philadelphia, she earned this record by playing many hours worth of tunes thrown at her by the judges, including rock, classical, religious, world, Broadway, jazz, bluegrass and many other styles. Her record remains today.
Squeek plays all styles and genres of music and summer/fall you can see her at the Bucket of Blood Saloon, Virginia City, Nevada.
Check her website for calendar: www.goodoldsongs.com
Squeek Steele is globally notorious for her wide-ranging expertise at the piano. Classically trained, she long ago branched out into musical styles like Ragtime, Honky-Tonk and traditional Jazz, as well as composing soundtracks for documentaries, musicals and folk opera.
She's a sought after entertainer, playing gigs (In every imaginable musical style) in Berlin, Singapore, Hong Kong and all over the United States. Her recordings have been selling well for decades.
She's also in the Guinness Bool of World Records for "The most pieces of music performed from memory". In 1998, in Philadelphia, she earned this record by playing many hours worth of tunes thrown at her by the judges, including rock, classical, religious, world, Broadway, jazz, bluegrass and many other styles. Her record remains today.
Squeek plays all styles and genres of music and summer/fall you can see her at the Bucket of Blood Saloon, Virginia City, Nevada.
Check her website for calendar: www.goodoldsongs.com
Free Badge Serenaders
When asked what kind of music their band plays, they often respond that "band" is a strong word for what they do. Having grown up in the jazz-infused confines of Sacramento, the Serenaders bring a unique, and often ridiculous, approach to music. Mixing faithful old standards, unlikely covers of popular songs, and a gaggle of clever originals, the Serenaders appeal to every age group. Especially yours.
Personnel: Greg Sabin- Banjo, tenor guitar, vocals
Patrick Skiffington- Washboard, kazoo, vocals
TBD- tuba
When asked what kind of music their band plays, they often respond that "band" is a strong word for what they do. Having grown up in the jazz-infused confines of Sacramento, the Serenaders bring a unique, and often ridiculous, approach to music. Mixing faithful old standards, unlikely covers of popular songs, and a gaggle of clever originals, the Serenaders appeal to every age group. Especially yours.
Personnel: Greg Sabin- Banjo, tenor guitar, vocals
Patrick Skiffington- Washboard, kazoo, vocals
TBD- tuba
Matt Tolentino
Music has always been at the center of Matt's life. His father played saxophone and piano in his younger days, in a band comprised of neighborhood boys. Through his dad he first learned to love jazz, and at the age of 7 claimed Henry Busse to be one of his favorites. When he was 8, he was given a copy of the album, 'Shakin' the Blues Away,' recorded by the Coffee Club Orchestra, the then-16-piece house band of radio's 'A Prairie Home Companion.' The album was comprised of pop tunes from the 1920s and early 1930s, and was his first exposure of the niche music he now performs. To this day it remains one of his favorites. Matt Tolentino began his musical venture at 11, when he picked up the clarinet to play in the band at Stonewall Jackson Elementary. He played clarinet exclusively until he entered his sophomore year of high school, when he branched out and added saxophone, tuba and accordion, which he spent the entire summer learning. At 15 Matt met one of his greatest musical influences, Robert Atwood of San Antonio, a very fine accordionist who taught him much about the instrument and music in general, and who would serve as his friend and mentor. Much of high school was spent playing polka gigs in restaurants and playing with the school jazz band. The accordion was Matt's first musical love, even before he could play - very contrary to his generation, 'The Lawrence Welk Show' was part of his usual television viewing. Matt never missed an episode, and for the longest time the thought never occurred to him that these were in fact old shows!
Bub & Petra Sullivan
Many of you know that these Long time Ragtime fans/musicians are
fully ensconced in the ragtime community. They have been instrumental in
legacy and the success of the Sacramento ragtime Society. Petras has been teaching music for many years and Bub has been a doctor practicing in the Sacramento area. They were the founding members of the Porcupine Ragtime Ensemble with Elliott Adams and they have been performing at festivals around the country, Bub is the acting president of the Sacramento Ragtime Festival that takes place every November.
Many of you know that these Long time Ragtime fans/musicians are
fully ensconced in the ragtime community. They have been instrumental in
legacy and the success of the Sacramento ragtime Society. Petras has been teaching music for many years and Bub has been a doctor practicing in the Sacramento area. They were the founding members of the Porcupine Ragtime Ensemble with Elliott Adams and they have been performing at festivals around the country, Bub is the acting president of the Sacramento Ragtime Festival that takes place every November.
The Amador Clarinet Quartet
The Amador Clarinet Quartet, was formed in the Spring of 2022. After meeting while playing in the Amador County Concert Band, their love of clarinet inspired them to connect and continue making music together. Their repertoire includes rag-time, holiday, and clarinet classics. They regularly perform at the local coffee shop and bakery, Choc~O~Latte, in Sutter Creek. Each member’s unique background allows the quartet to showcase various abilities and stay true to the musical styles.
Sophia Rechel is a graduate teaching assistant at the University of the Pacific working toward her master’s degree in music education. She has taught previously in Arizona and California and began playing the clarinet at the age of 9. Kate Storm is retired from the California Army National Guard Army Band. She plays clarinet and saxophone in local groups such as the Amador County Concert Band,
Claire Lillie is a retired school teacher in the Sacramento area. She has been a member of the Amador County Concert Band since 2012 and other concert bands throughout Northern California playing clarinet
Lori McIntyre works as a Classroom Aide for the Amador County School District. She helps with the elementary band program by assisting students new to music in band classes. Lori enjoys seeing the pride in the children as they improve during the year.
The Amador Clarinet Quartet, was formed in the Spring of 2022. After meeting while playing in the Amador County Concert Band, their love of clarinet inspired them to connect and continue making music together. Their repertoire includes rag-time, holiday, and clarinet classics. They regularly perform at the local coffee shop and bakery, Choc~O~Latte, in Sutter Creek. Each member’s unique background allows the quartet to showcase various abilities and stay true to the musical styles.
Sophia Rechel is a graduate teaching assistant at the University of the Pacific working toward her master’s degree in music education. She has taught previously in Arizona and California and began playing the clarinet at the age of 9. Kate Storm is retired from the California Army National Guard Army Band. She plays clarinet and saxophone in local groups such as the Amador County Concert Band,
Claire Lillie is a retired school teacher in the Sacramento area. She has been a member of the Amador County Concert Band since 2012 and other concert bands throughout Northern California playing clarinet
Lori McIntyre works as a Classroom Aide for the Amador County School District. She helps with the elementary band program by assisting students new to music in band classes. Lori enjoys seeing the pride in the children as they improve during the year.
CHARLIE JUDKINS AND MISS MAYBELL (LAUREN SANSARICQ)
We are delighted that newlyweds Charlie Judkins and Miss Maybell are participating in the Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival this year. They share a mutual, lifelong passion for pre-1920s popular music and have complimentary musical skills. With a wink to the pretentious barrelhouse hoi palloi, thus was born, “Miss Maybell” who is accompanied by Charlie.Adding to Lauren’s and Charlie’s combined strength is that their repertoire is built largely on obscure songs and verses, happily and skillfully, imbued with life, lilt, and spontaneity to boot. Lauren and Charlie are themselves serious early 78 RPM record collectors. They know, and revere, the details about the recordings of the pioneering composers, instrumentalists, vaudevillian singers, and lyricists, and familiarize themselves with the nuanced vocal and instrumental differences between versions of given songs sung by the same singers on various “takes” and record labels. These are a "not to miss" duo!
We are delighted that newlyweds Charlie Judkins and Miss Maybell are participating in the Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival this year. They share a mutual, lifelong passion for pre-1920s popular music and have complimentary musical skills. With a wink to the pretentious barrelhouse hoi palloi, thus was born, “Miss Maybell” who is accompanied by Charlie.Adding to Lauren’s and Charlie’s combined strength is that their repertoire is built largely on obscure songs and verses, happily and skillfully, imbued with life, lilt, and spontaneity to boot. Lauren and Charlie are themselves serious early 78 RPM record collectors. They know, and revere, the details about the recordings of the pioneering composers, instrumentalists, vaudevillian singers, and lyricists, and familiarize themselves with the nuanced vocal and instrumental differences between versions of given songs sung by the same singers on various “takes” and record labels. These are a "not to miss" duo!
Jeff Barnhart
Jeff Barnhart is an internationally renowned pianist, vocalist, arranger, bandleader, recording artist, ASCAP composer, educator and entertainer. Jeff shares his mastery of the classic swing, jazz, and ragtime repertoire of the early to mid-20th century with a versatility and vibrant energy that finds him constantly appearing as a soloist, band pianist, and with smaller groups—most notably Ivory & Gold® with his talented wife, flutist/vocalist Anne Barnhart—at parties, festivals, clubs, and cruises throughout the world. http://www.jeffbarnhart.com/ http://www.roadscholar.org/24844 |
Ivory and Gold
Jeff & Anne Barnhart Praised by The L.A. Jazz Scene as a musical duo that can “draw out the beauty in the rich melodies and play the music...with taste, sensitivity, and a real affection for the idiom,” Ivory & Gold® celebrates the greatest examples of American jazz, blues, ragtime, Broadway and hits from the Great American Songbook. Internationally renowned American musical performer and historian Max Morath calls Ivory & Gold® “musically flawless.” http://www.ivoryandgold.net/ http://www.parkerartists.com/ http://www.roadscholar.org/8009 |
Max Libertor
. Max Libertor was born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles California. One of 5 children, he showed a very early love for music. Max had some traditional piano lessons at a very early age, but stopped when he was twelve years old. During the pandemic his love for music was reignited when he discovered Tom Brier's modernistic and difficult ragtime. He started teaching himself Brier's music. This "new ragtime hobby" lasted long past the pandemic; in 2023, he was honored as the Ragtime Kid at the renowned Scott Joplin Festival in Sedalia, Missouri. Max has since performed at festivals such as the Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival and the West Coast Ragtime Festival. Max is not only a performer, but also a composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist. He plays trumpet in the high school concert and jazz band, and explores many other instruments in his free time.
. Max Libertor was born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles California. One of 5 children, he showed a very early love for music. Max had some traditional piano lessons at a very early age, but stopped when he was twelve years old. During the pandemic his love for music was reignited when he discovered Tom Brier's modernistic and difficult ragtime. He started teaching himself Brier's music. This "new ragtime hobby" lasted long past the pandemic; in 2023, he was honored as the Ragtime Kid at the renowned Scott Joplin Festival in Sedalia, Missouri. Max has since performed at festivals such as the Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival and the West Coast Ragtime Festival. Max is not only a performer, but also a composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist. He plays trumpet in the high school concert and jazz band, and explores many other instruments in his free time.
Virginia Tichenor
Virginia Tichenor has been consumed by ragtime her entire life, as the daughter of Trebor Tichenor, the noted ragtime scholar, pianist, collector and founder of the St. Louis Ragtimers. She studied music at the St. Louis Community Association for the Arts and took advanced training from concert pianist, John Phillips. Always at the crossroads of the ragtime revival, her parental home houses the world's largest library of ragtime sheet music and piano rolls. Virginia grew up with legends like Eubie Blake, Max Morath and Butch Thompson chatting in her own living room.
Her father was advisor-confidant for most of the ragtime community, so Virginia often heard new rags when they were forming in the minds of their composers. The topic of her college research project? The ragtime revival, of course! In 1998, Virginia released her first solo recording, a CD entitledVirginia's Favorites. It includes four two-piano duets with her father, Trebor.
She is the Vice President, and past President, of the West Coast Ragtime Society
Key System Rhythm Ramblers
Virginia Tichenor's Key System Rhythm Ramblers features great Ragtime era music lead by the super talented Virginia Tichenor on Piano, featuring Jeff Green on Plectrum Banjo/Vocals and Lisa Gonick on Tenor Banjo/Vocals. We'll be seranading you with a variety of Ragtime, Folk Ragtime, Dixieland and Early Jazz, from Scott Joplin to Fats Waller. This music is great for listening and even better to dance too. This is the trios first time playing at Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival and we're really looking forward to seeing you all there!
Virginia Tichenor's Key System Rhythm Ramblers features great Ragtime era music lead by the super talented Virginia Tichenor on Piano, featuring Jeff Green on Plectrum Banjo/Vocals and Lisa Gonick on Tenor Banjo/Vocals. We'll be seranading you with a variety of Ragtime, Folk Ragtime, Dixieland and Early Jazz, from Scott Joplin to Fats Waller. This music is great for listening and even better to dance too. This is the trios first time playing at Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival and we're really looking forward to seeing you all there!
Elliott Adams
Elliott has been playing Piano since the age of ten and is now known internationally as a ragtime player, collector, Historian, writer and composer. His extensive collection of ragtime, blues and early jazz sheet music is available to researchers, musicians and publishers. He has several notable solo recordings on the Stomp Off and Piano Mania Labels. Elliott is and intrepid Golfer and a practicing dermatologist.
MARTIN SPITZNAGEL
Martin has been hailed as a remarkable, astonishing, and "face-melting" musical talent. His flying fingers and sparkling repertoire have left audiences across the country enthralled with America's first popular music, Ragtime. Whether performing the masterworks of Scott Joplin or the score to Star Wars, Martin is truly at home on the piano bench.He found success early, winning a Yamaha Disklavier at the age of 14 in Calliope Media's nationwide Crazy for Ragtime competition. His entry, chosen from the hundreds of submissions by a panel of judges that included world-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman, coincided with the centennial of the birth of ragtime music in 1897.Despite this early success, Martin was largely self-guided until 1998, when he met Eastman School of Music pianist and pedagogue Dr. Tony Caramia, who challenged him to "find the surprise" in every performance. Under Caramia's tutelage, Martin flourished, developing a keen ear for melody, a gift for improvisation, and a talent for composition.
Martin has been hailed as a remarkable, astonishing, and "face-melting" musical talent. His flying fingers and sparkling repertoire have left audiences across the country enthralled with America's first popular music, Ragtime. Whether performing the masterworks of Scott Joplin or the score to Star Wars, Martin is truly at home on the piano bench.He found success early, winning a Yamaha Disklavier at the age of 14 in Calliope Media's nationwide Crazy for Ragtime competition. His entry, chosen from the hundreds of submissions by a panel of judges that included world-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman, coincided with the centennial of the birth of ragtime music in 1897.Despite this early success, Martin was largely self-guided until 1998, when he met Eastman School of Music pianist and pedagogue Dr. Tony Caramia, who challenged him to "find the surprise" in every performance. Under Caramia's tutelage, Martin flourished, developing a keen ear for melody, a gift for improvisation, and a talent for composition.
Piotr Barcz
Piotr was born in Poland. He has traveled between and lived in both the US and Europe all his life, currently residing in Essex, NY. Piotr is a ragtime, swing and jazz pianist, music archivist, audio engineer, and piano collector. Immersed in music from a young age, Piotr initially played blues and ragtime
guitar, then drums, but over time piano has become his main instrument. He has
performed onstage since he was eight years old. Piotr’s musical influences include
Frederick Hodges, swing pianist Teddy Wilson, and Benny Goodman’s band pianist Jess
Stacy, as well as Tom Brier, especially in his ragtime repertoire.
In 2019 Piotr was introduced to player pianos and has since devoted a lot of his time to
these instruments, adding several to his piano collection, learning to rebuild them, and
cutting his own piano rolls. He has even shipped a player piano to Poland so that he can
enjoy it while living there, part of the year.
Piotr is the owner of Ivory Music company, a piano roll cutting and recording business. He
also runs a YouTube channel dedicated to piano roll scan archiving, publishing music by
ragtime composers, and transcribing tunes into midi files suitable for numerous uses, such as Disklavier playback or cutting piano rolls.
Having attended several ragtime festivals on the East and West Coast, Piotr is glad to be included in the Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival this year as an official performer. In the future Piotr hopes to organize a Vintage Music Festival in Europe where he could host his
American Ragtime family.
Piotr was born in Poland. He has traveled between and lived in both the US and Europe all his life, currently residing in Essex, NY. Piotr is a ragtime, swing and jazz pianist, music archivist, audio engineer, and piano collector. Immersed in music from a young age, Piotr initially played blues and ragtime
guitar, then drums, but over time piano has become his main instrument. He has
performed onstage since he was eight years old. Piotr’s musical influences include
Frederick Hodges, swing pianist Teddy Wilson, and Benny Goodman’s band pianist Jess
Stacy, as well as Tom Brier, especially in his ragtime repertoire.
In 2019 Piotr was introduced to player pianos and has since devoted a lot of his time to
these instruments, adding several to his piano collection, learning to rebuild them, and
cutting his own piano rolls. He has even shipped a player piano to Poland so that he can
enjoy it while living there, part of the year.
Piotr is the owner of Ivory Music company, a piano roll cutting and recording business. He
also runs a YouTube channel dedicated to piano roll scan archiving, publishing music by
ragtime composers, and transcribing tunes into midi files suitable for numerous uses, such as Disklavier playback or cutting piano rolls.
Having attended several ragtime festivals on the East and West Coast, Piotr is glad to be included in the Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival this year as an official performer. In the future Piotr hopes to organize a Vintage Music Festival in Europe where he could host his
American Ragtime family.
Confirmed but Not pictured yet :
Micheal Flores
Isaiah Burton
Micheal Flores
Isaiah Burton
|
 Isaiah
Our Youth Concert Performers
To Be Announced |