The Scott Joplin International Ragtime Foundation (SJIRF) has recently announced the Larry Karp Memorial Fund Award Program. The award will recognize and educate young ragtime performers at the middle and high school level.
Larry Karp was an internationally recognized medical doctor specializing in perinatal medicine (high risk pregnancy care) who left his highly successful practice to pursue a successful career in writing. Among his many books were three mysteries and a thorough biography based on his passion for ragtime and specifically Brunson Campbell, known as the “Ragtime Kid.”
The Karp Memorial Fund Committee took the “Ragtime Kids” theme to title the new award. The program’s intent is to “inspire young performers and researchers to create new ragtime music and discover more of ragtime’s history.” The objectives include educating young people on the significance of ragtime music and specifically the role Scott Joplin had on American music and the role Sedalia, Missouri played in that heritage.
When Larry Karp died October 11, 2016, his family approached the Joplin Foundation about establishing a memorial. Larry’s family began a fund in 2017 and it has grown through contributions over the past year and a half. A committee including Larry’s wife Myra and son Casey was established to consider an appropriate way to commemorate Larry’s life and the award has
