Considered by many to be the best Ragtime/Boogie-Woogie pianist in the world, Bob Milne will be performing at Stetson University’s Lee Chapel, 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 19. Lee Chapel is located inside Elizabeth Hall, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., on Stetson’s DeLand campus. The performance is open to the public, free of charge.

Although Milne comes from a classical background, having excelled as a French horn virtuoso at the Eastman School of Music, he is completely self-taught as a pianist, playing totally by ear. When he took up saloon piano-playing on the side, he discovered what fun entertaining his listeners could be, and how natural it came to him.

Early on in this new career, Milne became fascinated by the Ragtime music found on nearby player pianos, and how much listeners enjoyed it. His “internship” lasted 25 years; he has even written a book on these experiences, The Journeyman Piano Player.

Milne naturally progressed to the concert stage, acknowledged by many as one of the best pianists of our time. He is now constantly performing across the country and beyond from concert halls to festivals, and everything in between. He is still having fun with his audiences exhibiting ballistic speed as well as subtle harmonies.

Known as a “Ragtimist”–a term he coined–Milne quickly made himself a dedicated student and presenter of this true American musical form, having acquired both a vast repertoire of tunes and extensive knowledge of their origins.

These histories and the stories of the piano players who were playing them are anecdotally incorporated into Milne’s presentations. He also teaches music history at Florida Atlantic University every winter, and conducts a music retreat in Lapeer, Mich., each September.

It comes as no surprise that the Library of Congress designated Milne a “national treasure” when they documented his expertise for future generations, and that the U.S. State Department has utilized him as a “musical ambassador” in Japan and Switzerland.

Milne brings endless enthusiasm, enchanting ease of playing, and an engaging manner while telling stories about Ragtime and Boogie-Woogie music with warmth and humor.

Today Milne is well known as an outstanding pianist specializing in Ragtime, Boogie-Woogie, the Blues, and the Player Piano styles of the turn of the century.

For more information, contact Stetson University’s School of Music at (386) 822-8950, or visit stetson.edu/music.