52 | NOVEMBER 2 • 2023 J
N

ARTS&LIFE
MUSIC

A 

banjo player and an organist have put together a ragtime 
concert to raise money for the restoration of the organ at 
the Masonic Temple in Detroit. The event is scheduled 
for 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12, in the Cathedral Theatre at the 
Masonic Temple. 
“I want the audience to learn how enjoyable it is to experience 
live music, especially with this instrumentation,” said Aaron 
Lewis, the banjo player and a Detroiter who will appear with 
Stephen Warner on the organ. “It’s very unusual to have classic 
banjo music and pipe organ duets.”
The duet team will be joined at times by Alex Belhaj on guitar 
and Abby Alwin on cello. 
“I want people to experience a connection to the past and a 
bridge to our shared cultural history because there are so many 
things that divide us in these days,” said Lewis, who attributes the 
start of ragtime to the black community at the end of the 19th 
century and the beginning of the 20th century. “I want to 
focus on the things that can bring us together. It’s an 
opportunity to recognize the incredible contributions 
of black people to the cultural wealth of this country.” 
Lewis, 42, who identifies with the basic tenets of 
the Lewis Jewish family upbringing and also has 
focused his musical career on country and folk 
styles, lined up a program featuring the work of 
many ragtime artists, such as Leslie Stuart, Joe 
Morley and James Scott.
The distinctive feature of ragtime music is being 
linked to a syncopated melody.
“The unexpected synergy between these two 
instruments from entirely different worlds has left me 
feeling inspired,” said Brandon Langford, the Masonic 
Temple’s curator of organs and a member of the Masonic 
Temple Association Board of Trustees. “I’m particularly 
inspired by this event because it will be the 
first opportunity for the public to hear the 
organ in concert since it was installed 98 
years ago.”
Proceeds from ticket sales will go toward 
restoring the Skinner organ, which requires 
$500,000 in additional work. 
 

Musicians plan ragtime concert 
to benefit Masonic Temple organ.

Restoration 
 Fundraiser

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Banjo player 
Aaron Lewis will 
play at the ragtime 
concert fundraiser.
Details
For concert 
tickets, at $35 
each, go to 
themasonic.com.

