An Afternoon of Ragtime 2026: The Conroe Symphony Salon Series

CONROE, TX -- As the Dog Days of August began its third week in Conroe, the call for Ragtime enthusiasts and admirers to gather had been heralded throughout Texas, and this past Saturday many Ragtimers heeded the summonance of Conroe Symphony Orchestra President Bill Thompson, to share their magical renditions of 128 years ago, along with some modern interpretations of the ragged-time inspiration. The CSO rehearsal center on North Frazier in Conroe, was the perfect setting for the informal assembly, as flutes and the piano were on-hand to recreate the music that was popular from the late 1890s to about 1920, when Jazz started to take over the music scene. This was the 7th gathering of ragtimers, with a number of players hailing from the San Antonio Ragtime Society.

The performers for this year’s Ragtime Salon were Flute Rhapsody, and pianists Brooks Christensen, Steuart Dewar, Belinda Huber, Monty Suffern, William Partridge, Bill Thompson, Alecia Russell, and Abby Jo Jackson.

Of course the ‘King of Ragtime’ will always be Scott Joplin, and many of his pieces are played each year amongst the ragtimers, but it is nice to see more female composers whose music is coming to the forefront.

The ensemble ‘Flute Rhapsody,’ consisting of flutists, principal Stephanie Harris, Kim Bellini, Sara Chung Ryherd, Karen Paganis, Carolyn Evans, Faith Knott; Alto Flute John Algood; and Cello Mikayla Allgood were in excellent form. They played ‘Alexander's Ragtime Band,’ composed by Irving Berlin in 1911, and there is some debate as to whether it is a march or a rag, since it contains a small amount of syncopation. Either way, ARB makes for some great entertainment. The flute ensemble also played Ann Cameron Pearce’s ‘Quicksilver Rag,’ written in 2004 by the North Carolina flute instructor; and it is a piece specifically written for flutes. Quicksilver is a lively work that maintains a swift tempo and keen dotted rhythms that present a playful and upbeat feel.

The duo of CSO President Bill Thompson and Conroe piano teacher Alecia Russell, played Mae Auferheide’s ‘Blue Ribbon Rag.’ from 1910, and is a light, lively and energetic rag, which has several seconds where it feels the volume is cut, but comes right back. Auferheide only composed for a few short years with only a few credits to her name, before she married. Thompson also had a duo with Houstonian Will Partridge, playing Ted Snyder’s ‘Wild Cherries Rag.’ Written in ‘Tempo di marcia,’ or in marching time, it at times mimics the regular pace of a military march, or about 120 beats per minute; and you'd be very comfortable watching Keystone Cops scenes to it.

For the third year running, the youngest participant to the salon was Abby Jo Jackson, from Conroe, and now 13, her play continues to improve. Abby Jo played Scott Joplin’s 1902 piece, ‘The Entertainer,’ the famous ragtime two-step, and Joplin’s timeless magnum opus of the era of ragtime. The rag is praised for its illuminating melodic charm and catchy syncopated rhythms that eventually paved the way for the Jazz age. Abby Jo’s mother Mandy Jo teaches the young pianist, and ragtime is one of the genres that A.J. admirers.

Will Partridge is a young ragtime player from Harris County, and this is his inaugural year with The Conroe Symphony Salon Series ragtime edition. Both Will and Abby Jo are the future of ragtime, and it's good to see young blood coming into the game. Will played Imogene Giles’ 1907 ‘Red Peppers,’ which also has gone by the Red Pepper Two-Step in the past. It’s a lively, upbeat rag, and sadly was her only known piece, published by her husband’s firm.

One of the San Antonio Ragtime Society contingent, Brooks Christensen, along with Monty Suffern, Steuart Dewar and Belinda Huber, has been playing ragtime since ‘The Sting’ was shown in movie houses in 1973 when he was 12. He performed Adaline Shepherd’s ‘Pickles & Peppers,’ a 1906 song that had the audience rocking back and forth. At the time P&P was a popular ragtime song, selling several million copies of the song, and was used as part of the campaign stops of William Jennings Bryan’s 1908 presidential campaign. Sadly, it was one of the few ragtime pieces she published before she married.

“Your smiles are the reason why we play,” said Brooks, who plays for the love of the music he learned since his teen years.

Aussie-Texan Monty Suffern has also been playing for decades, and still enjoys entertaining audiences. He played a modern rendition, 2013, of the ‘Lamb Chop Rag,’ composed by Larisa Migachyov, who wrote the piece in the style of Joseph Lamb; one of the big-three ragtime composers. LCR was rich in harmony, and the differing themes are enjoyable to hear along with some variation. It is refreshing to see modern-day ragtime composers take on the task from a long gone era, and thanks to composers like Larisa, we get to hear more of the genre from the modern feminine hand.

Ragtime duo Steuart Dewar and his wife Belinda Huber, haven’t been in the game as long as Monty or Brooks, but you wouldn’t know it when they took to the piano. They also honored Mae Auferheide, by playing her ’The Thriller’ rag from 1909, and is in no way associated with Michael Jackson and his 1980s ‘Thriller.’ Towards the end there are a few segments of general excitement that perhaps caused a ‘thrill’ when it came to naming the rage.

Thompson praised the Montgomery County Commissioners for the Conroe Symphony Orchestra’s use of the building over the years, as well for its continued use into the future. The CSO is very appreciative of the use of the county facility, which also houses the Montgomery County Housing Authority, and the Montgomery County Genealogical and Historical Society.

The Conroe Symphony’s Salon Series, located at 1500 N Frazier St, in Conroe, is a full, and free afternoon of wonderful music. You can come and go at your leisure, and it’s a great way to be one with the music.

The website for the CSO is: conroesymphony.org Please consider donating to this wonderful organization.