Lara Downes

Downes argues that Joplin should be known as more than just the 'King of Ragtime.'

On her new album, "Reflections: Scott Joplin Reconsidered," pianist Lara Downes shares 17 Joplin compositions in fresh arrangements.

Scott Joplin was born in Texas and became one of the most famous musicians in America by the turn of the century, only to die penniless and forgotten in 1917. His story is told on TPR Classical's African American Voices series.

The king of ragtime published his hit tune 120 years ago. Pianist Lara Downes believes the piece helped shape the future of American music.

Pianist Lara Downes' latest mini-album traces the story of the Great Migration of Black Americans from the south in the early to mid-20th century, with music by Florence Price and Harry T. Burleigh.

NPR's Rachel Martin spoke to the pianist about Phenomenal Women,the most recent mini-album in the series, in which Downes re-recorded the work of some deeply impactful female composers.

The pianist joins Ari Shapiro to discuss Amplify With Lara Downes, a video series on Black musicians who have experienced renewed creativity regarding racial injustice.

In a pre-interview exchange of text messages between Classics a la Carte host James Baker and pianist Lara Downes, Lara asked: “Do you have my new…

Lara Downes describes these times as the "lost season," referring to the blanket cancellations of concert engagements practically every performing artist…

Hear the pianist's portrait of America in a smartly programmed, wide-ranging anthology of solo piano works by composers past and present; male and female; straight and gay; white, black and Latino.