Chautauqua!

What was Chautauqua?

Theodore Roosevelt called it

“the most American thing in America.”


Chautauqua, pronounced  (sha-TAW-kwa)

was  an  American institution of traveling culture popular in the early part of the 20th century.  Circuit chautauqua  toured throughout rural America while  presenting  an ecclectic mix of performers  including  lecturers, teachers,  actors, singers, magicians, opera companies, whistlers, writers,  musicians and more! 


In The Chautauqua Movement, Joseph E. Gold wrote, “Chautauqua week was an exciting time for the people of an American town.  Chautauqua personnel were a fascinating mixture of the engagingly wholesome and familiar on the one hand, and the glamorous and exotic on the other.” 


Inspired by  entertainers on the original chautauqua circuit,  Laura offers an unusual  music experience in a chautauqua style complete with props, narrative, and multimedia.    Perfect for community presenters,  or K-12 audiences!


  1. •If this Piano Could Talk: An American Music Journey from Ragtime to the Silver Screen

Pack your bags and travel back in America’s history. This dynamic program features music and  composers from the 19th and 20th Centuries.  This program features  the music of Scott Joplin, Stephen Foster, Amy Beach, George Gershwin,  Samuel Barber  and more. 


  1. •¡Puentes Músicales!  Musical Bridges,

A Pan American Music Journey

This exciting program features  Pan American  composers including Manuel Ponce, Carlos Chávez,  Jelly Roll Morton,  Ricardo Castillo,  Louis Gottschalk, and Aaron Copland.   Audiences learn about the cross cultural friendships  and musical elements that have influenced generations of composers.


  1. •Women With a Past, A celebration of women composers past and present!

Celebrate women composers from  the 19th and 20th Centuries  with this program featuring the piano music of  Dana Suesse, Isolina Carillo, Amy Beach, and Mary Lou Williams.  This program combines lively narrative  mixed with  art music  repertoire, lively dance numbers, jazz, and popular  standards. 

© Laura Dean 2010

Laura Dean, pianist