peacherineragtime

No, there are a few others, but I can only count them on one hand. I am the youngest though, at 23 years old. The others are all 40+ years old.

I was first exposed to it as a 12 year old during a piano lesson. I was playing the classics, Bach, Beethoven, etc., and as a "break" by my piano teacher, she gave me a copy of Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag from 1899.

When I was 16 (2007) I heard a ragtime orchestra for the first time, the Manhattan Ragtime Orchestra (now defunct), and loved it. I found some original arrangements, put together a group (while in high school) and started playing it. I formed PRSO when I reached college.

Right now my iPod is an eclectic mix of old 78s, ragtime-era cylinder recordings, modern ragtime recordings (by pianists and orchestras), some classic rock, and lots of jazz.

Everybody loves the Michigan Rag!

There's a lot of challenges. The biggie is gigs though. It's incredibly difficult to get gigs for the group. Many people have this notion that ragtime music is some old guy playing on a rickety piano in a smoky corner of a saloon. And my ensemble doesn't work too well for playing at a bar or club, so we have to focus on bigger venues or concert associations. And many of them are not willing to hire a ragtime group, especially in this economy. They believe it's too risky to hire us (which truly isn't the case).

The second biggest is simply hiring musicians. I have a wonderful team of regulars I pull from, but if I need to substitute someone out, it can be difficult to find one who's willing to play. Again, it's the idea that ragtime isn't this professional musical form, so some musicians scoff at the idea. Those who play it learn how fun it is, and they're willing to play it again.