World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest and Festival

World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest and Festival The World Championship of Old-Time Piano Playing is an annual festival held every Memorial Day Weeke

Every year over Memorial Day weekend in Oxford, Mississippi, the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest is held to provide opportunities for extraordinary performers to compete and to educate people about old-time piano music written prior to 1940. Through the years, the contest has provided more than $60,000 in prize money to more than 500 piano players from across the United States an

d from five foreign countries. The competition consists of the New Rag Contest; Junior Division (up to age 18); Regular Division (over age 18) and Senior Division (age 60+). Contestants vie for cash prizes, trophies and bragging rights for the coming year. A variety of other activities including workshops, a sing-along variety show, dinner with the previous year's Champion, guest artist concerts and top-notch entertainment on the historic Oxford Square each evening. This is a weekend packed with Ragtime, Tin Pan Alley and Standard tunes played by amazing piano players. You don’t have to play piano to enjoy music that will have your toes tapping. You’ll have a blast at the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest.

Many thanks to our judges for the 2026 Contest ... Julie McClarey, Brian Holland & Jeff Barnhart. Your friendship and s...
05/29/2026

Many thanks to our judges for the 2026 Contest ... Julie McClarey, Brian Holland & Jeff Barnhart. Your friendship and support of this event is much appreciated!

Here are the Regular Division winners: Standing - Mack Berry of Hagerstown, MD, 5th place; Alex Nutt of Newport, Wales, ...
05/28/2026

Here are the Regular Division winners: Standing - Mack Berry of Hagerstown, MD, 5th place; Alex Nutt of Newport, Wales, 4th place; Sitting (left to right): Zach Mandernach of Orlando, FL, 3rd place; David Cavalari of Eden Prairie, MN, 1st place; and John Beggs of Madison, FL, 2nd place. Thanks for some great music!

Max Liberator of Torrance, CA is our 2026 Junior Division Champion. Placing second is Jared Szabo of Simi Valley, CA and...
05/27/2026

Max Liberator of Torrance, CA is our 2026 Junior Division Champion. Placing second is Jared Szabo of Simi Valley, CA and in third place, Alexander Hutchinson of Rockingham, NC. Congrats to all for their fine achievement!

Here is the 2026 Senior Division Champion FAYE BALLARD of Champaign, IL.
05/27/2026

Here is the 2026 Senior Division Champion FAYE BALLARD of Champaign, IL.

Congratulations to the 2026 Regular Division Champion DAVID CAVALARI of Eden Prairie, MN!
05/27/2026

Congratulations to the 2026 Regular Division Champion DAVID CAVALARI of Eden Prairie, MN!

The 2026 Junior Champion is Max Liberator of Torrance, CA; 2nd place is Jared Szabo of Simi Valley, CA; 3rd place to Ale...
05/24/2026

The 2026 Junior Champion is Max Liberator of Torrance, CA; 2nd place is Jared Szabo of Simi Valley, CA; 3rd place to Alexander Hutchinson of Rockingham, NC. Congratulations to our young prodigies!

It all comes to a close this evening with the Red, White & Blue Party at The Old Henry. Join us for one final hearing fr...
05/24/2026

It all comes to a close this evening with the Red, White & Blue Party at The Old Henry. Join us for one final hearing from some truly unique pianists from across the country. Join in as we celebrate Memorial Day with the traditional service tunes. Veterans admitted free of charge. The Old Henry Ole Miss Department of Music The Local Voice Visit Oxford City of Oxford Oxford & Ole Miss The Oxford Eagle SuperTalk Mississippi Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce Yoknapatawpha Arts Council

It all begins at 1 pm in Nutt Auditorium. Come out to hear the semis & finals this afternoon and help us crown the Regu...
05/24/2026

It all begins at 1 pm in Nutt Auditorium. Come out to hear the semis & finals this afternoon and help us crown the Regular & Senior champions for 2026. Also, an encore performance from the 2026 Junior Champion. Ole Miss Department of Music Yoknapatawpha Arts Council Visit Oxford The Local Voice SuperTalk Mississippi WKNO MPB - Mississippi Public Broadcasting City of Oxford

Guest artist Julie McClarey joins the service at First Presbyterian Church this morning at 10 am to provide all of the m...
05/24/2026

Guest artist Julie McClarey joins the service at First Presbyterian Church this morning at 10 am to provide all of the music. Not a Presbyterian? Consider switching denominations for at least this one time. Ole Miss Department of Music Fpc Oxford City of Oxford The Local Voice

Guest Artist Jeff Barnhart works with a few of the Junior Division competitors in a piano master class on the Nutt Audi...
05/24/2026

Guest Artist Jeff Barnhart works with a few of the Junior Division competitors in a piano master class on the Nutt Auditorium stage this morning at 9 am. Come out to hear some wonderful young musicians and learn from one of the jazz/ragtime great artists. NewsWatch Ole Miss Ole Miss Department of Music University of Mississippi College of Liberal Arts The Local Voice

Address

Old-Time Piano Contest C/o University Of Mississippi Department Of Music
University, MS
38677

Telephone

+6628012251

Website

https://world-championship-old-time-piano.square.site/s/shop

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