The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, the world’s only year-round, professional ensemble re-creating “America’s Original Music,” will appear at the Wildflower Music Festival on Saturday, July 4 at 6 pm.

The syncopated sounds of early musical theater, silent cinema, and vintage dance highlight the show.

In 1988 the Orchestra made its formal debut at Alice Tully Hall, the first concert ever presented at Lincoln Center by such an ensemble. Since then PRO has appeared at hundreds of leading arts venues, including the Ravinia Festival, the Smithsonian Institution, Chautauqua, the Brucknerhaus (Austria), the New York 92nd Street Y, and the American Dance Festival.

According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer concerning a PRO performance, “the music is incomparably sweet and stirring.  And Rick Benjamin, who founded and conducts the PRO, is a musician of wit and sensibility.” 

This Wildflower performance is partially supported by a grant from Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, a program developed and funded by The Heinz Endowments; the William Penn Foundation; the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency; and The Pew Charitable Trusts; and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.

General admission tickets are $20, students 6 to 18 years are $10. There is no charge for children under six.

The general admission performance begins at 6:00 pm at the Wildflower Amphitheater on the grounds of the beautiful Dorflinger-Suydam Wildlife Sanctuary in White Mills, between Hawley and Honesdale, PA. Guests are invited to bring lawn chairs and pack a picnic to enjoy the pristine setting. Light beverages will be for sale on the Sanctuary grounds.

In the event of inclement weather, the performance will be held at the air-conditioned auditorium at the Wallenpaupack Area High School.

Upcoming concerts in the Wildflower concert series include: Siora World Jazz Ensemble, Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass, the Wildflower Steppingstones Young Artist Concert with Cuban Tres (no admission charge), An Evening with Judy Collins (special $30 ticket), River City 6, Stig Rossen, and Steep Canyon Rangers.

All performers and programs are subject to change. For ticket information and directions, call 570-253-5500 (Monday through Friday, 10 to 4, Saturday 10 to 5:30), e-mail music01@ptd.net, or visit online at www.wildflowermusic.org.