Chamber choir Seraphic Fire has been making local & national headlines since its 2002 debut. Awarded a Knight Arts grant in 2007, the choir debuted its Firebird chamber orchestra in 2008. As the orchestra wraps up its inaugural summer concert series, Seraphic Fire artistic and press associate Kenneth Merrill previews the orchestra’s final program – a performance by pianist and raconteur Richard Dowling celebrating American ragtime and Gershwin. 

“We are so excited to be presenting acclaimed pianist and witty raconteur Richard Dowling who will perform the final program of our inaugural Summer Concert Series. It’s been a great summer and I can think of no better way to close it out in style than with Richard’s entertaining and energetic Ragtime performance.

Celebrated not only for his definitive interpretations of the repertoire, but also for his entertaining commentary and anecdotes about the composers’ lives and American popular music from 1890 – 1930, audiences across the country have gone wild for Richard Dowling’s elegant and energetic performances.

A Celebration of American Ragtime and Gershwin traces the beginnings of American Popular music and its undeniable influence on the varying genres that proliferated during the early 20^th century and beyond. From Scott Joplin to Euday Bowman the popular ragtime tunes that emerged from the smoke filled bars and bordellos of the early 20th century became the musical bedrock upon which the blues, jazz, rock-n-roll and the cosmopolitan grandeur of Gershwin’s magnum opus Rhapsody in Blue, were all built on. Audiences will be led on a tour of this uniquely American art form by a performer whose graceful style is matched by his witty and incisive storytelling.”

—Kenneth Merrill