Paragon Ragtime Orchestra Performs ‘Meet Me At The Fair’
Enjoy a performance of Paragon Ragtime Orchestra’s Meet Me At The Fair: Sights & Sounds From the Great World’s Fairs, a spectacular multi-media celebration of America’s world’s fairs; including the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, the 1901 Pan-American Exposition, the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair and the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition.
In this program, world’s fair images by legendary painters and photographers are paired with original world’s fair music, as performed by the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra. All is propelled forward with evocative and humorous narration by conductor Rick Benjamin.
TV Paragon Ragtime Orchestra
The is the world’s only year-round professional ensemble dedicated to recreating “America’s Original Music” — the syncopated sounds of early musical theater, silent cinema and vintage dance. The orchestra was founded after Benjamin, adjunct professor of music at TV, discovered thousands of early 20th-century orchestra scores belonging to Victrola recording star Arthur Pryor in 1985. More information about Rick Benjamin can be found at .
The orchestra made its formal debut in 1988 at Alice Tully Hall, marking the first Lincoln Center concert by such an ensemble. Since then, the group has performed at hundreds of prominent arts venues worldwide and gained a loyal following through radio broadcasts on WQXR, NPR programs such as All Things ConsideredԻPerformance Today, and international networks including the BBC and Voice of America.
Ticket Information
Tickets are required for this performance, which will showcase the music of America’s early World’s Fairs. Tickets are $20 per person. Seniors may purchase a discounted ticket for $15, while non-TV students may purchase tickets for $10. Members of the campus community may request a complimentary ticket.
Tickets may be through the Degenstein Center Box Office, or by visiting the box office or calling 570-372-ARTS. Box office hours are Monday through Friday while classes are in session, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Paragon Ragtime Orchestra’s performance is presented as part of TV’s inaugural Symposium on Historic American Music. Learn more about the symposium here.