2024 Events

Judy Carmichael & Larry Koonse
Presentation: Nutt Auditorium – 9:00 am

Judy’s been featured on A Prairie Home Companion, NPR’s Morning Edition, Entertainment Tonight, CBS’ Sunday Morning, CNN’s Business Unusual, Mornings With Margaret Throsby for the Australia Broadcast Corporation, Jo Soaresin Brazil and the BBC’s Loose Ends, In Tune, Up All Night, Woman’s Hour and numerous other shows

For 22 years Judy has produced and hosted Judy Carmichael’s Jazz Inspired which broadcasts on NPR stations across America and podcasts everywhere but Mars, although it might be there too.  She has written two books on stride piano and numerous articles about jazz.  Her memoir, Swinger! A Jazz Girl’s Adventures From Hollywood To Harlem was published in January 2018 and her book, Great Inspirations: 22 Years of Jazz Inspired on NPR was published in August 2022.   

PURCHASE TICKET

Musical Luncheon
(Powerhouse) – 12:00 pm

Join us for a musical luncheon at the Powerhouse with two-time champion Paul Orsi providing entertainment. Paul has played his high-energy ragtime style in a variety of restaurants and venues throughout Southern California. In 1983, he joined the elite group of Coke Corner Pianists at Disneyland, where he performed for 10 years. You will be sure to enjoy Paul’s exciting style!

*not included in all-event or day pass.

PURCHASE LUNCHEON TICKET

Ian Hominick Presentation
Nutt Auditorium – 3:00 pm
Wild About Jazz: Earl Wild’s Excursion On the ‘Dark Side’

Ian Hominick describes Earl Wild’s involvement with commercial music through radio, TV and live performance before being taken seriously as a classical artist. Wild’s flair for improvisation and arranging made him much in demand in the early days of radio and television, most notably a favorite of the iconic bandleader of the day, Paul Whiteman. Wild was also one the the “Piano Playboys” on ABC Radio appearing alongside the likes of legends Cy Walter, Stan Freeman, Art Tatum, George Shearing and Mary Lou Williams, to name a few.

PURCHASE TICKET

Tune-ups Party
Powerhouse – 8:00 pm

An evening of non-stop piano playing by contestants and guest artists at the Powerhouse.  This is your chance to catch the majority of players in action in an informal setting and hear some phenomenal piano playing. Enjoy your favorite drink while you reconnect with old friends and make some new friends while listening to all of your favorites.  Bar available on site.

PURCHASE TICKET

Silent Movie Luncheon
Band Hall – 11:45 am

Enjoy a box lunch within the confines of the Music Building inbetween the morning and afternoon Preliminary Rounds with guest artist Adam Swanson providing live accompaniment to a couple of classic silent films, the way it was done before “talkies” became the norm.

PURCHASE TICKET

An Hour with Ted Lemen
… before he’s gone!
Powerhouse – 7:30 pm

Featuring contest founder Ted Lemen in a presentation of his favorite music and stories to highlight his life as a self-taught piano player amid a world of trained professionals.  The show will reveal how he got to play coast-to-coast on Amtrak’s Transcontinental Steam Excursion in 1977, competed in the Great Piano Marathon in Bloomington, Illinois, which led to many years playing at Shakey’s Pizza Parlor–and his multi-year stint as the piano player on the Spirit of Peoria riverboat.  In addition to starting the piano contest, he also founded the Monticello Railway Museum, which will soon begin its 52nd year operating restored, full-size trains for the public, and which first hosted the contest to attract riders. A fixture at the piano contest for nearly five decades, he is not limited to vintage music, but has written dozens of songs about life, Chicago, love, and trains, some of which he will share.  He also won the New Rag Contest twice and produced the late Marty Sammon’s popular Blues Flings in the Chicago area for nine years until Sammon’s untimely passing in 2022.

Old-Time Sing-a-long
Powerhouse – 8:30 pm

Grab a songbook and sing along with Jamie Shannon to some of the memorable old classic songs such as Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Tea for Two, My Blue Heaven and many more.

Dr. Warren Ertle & the Corpse Revivers
Powerhouse – 9:15 pm

Dr. Warren Ertle’s Corpse Revivers (formerly “Hot Peppers”) is an authentic eight-piece “hot jazz” band comprised of all-star musicians from Mississippi and Alabama. The band is committed to providing authentic performances of 1920s-1930s jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Bix Beiderbecke, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, and many others.

Pianists Scheduled
Powerhouse – 10:00 pm

After the band, pianists will be scheduled at 10-minute intervals for the remainder of the evening.

PURCHASE TICKET FOR SATURDAY AFTERHOURS

Semi-final & Final Rounds
Nutt Auditorium – 1:00 pm

The top 10 Regular Division entrants compete with two selections each in the semi-final round. The field is narrowed down to the top 5 who vie for the crown of 2024 Champion with their one remaining selection. The Senior Division winners are announced at the end of the Semi-finals.

PURCHASE TICKET