
John William “Blind” Boone Symposium
Begins in Columbia, Missouri
September 30 – October 2, 2022
Boone’s significance as a virtuosic pianist and consummate entertainer in his day impacting the history of American music cannot be overstated, though he is less-well known than Scott Joplin or Thomas Turpin. We aim for the symposium to bring greater public attention and scholarly interest to this remarkable Missourian by visiting, performing, and presenting in places that were significant to him.
We are excited to welcome you to Central Missouri to visit three cities where Boone lived/worked: Columbia (Friday, Sept 30), Warrensburg (Saturday, Oct 1), and Jefferson City (Sunday, Oct 2). We have an exciting lineup of presenters and performers ready to share the life & work of John William “Blind” Boone as well as interesting related topics. We will enjoy guided tours of historic sites, a concert featuring Boone’s vocal and piano compositions, and a gala reception at the Boone Historic Home.
The John William “Blind” Boone Symposium is made possible through collaboration between The Boone Heritage Home Foundation, Boone County Historical Society, The Budds Center for American Music Studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Lincoln University, University of Central Missouri, Reginald Robinson and Dr. Jolie Rocke. We have received grants through:
The Budds Center for American Music Studies
Warrensburg Convention & Visitors Bureau
Missouri Humanities
Registration Rates: $25 per day ($60 3-day rate)
Livestream options will be announced in July
Includes: transportation to Warrensburg (Friday night), onto Jefferson City (Sunday morning), with return to Columbia on Sunday afternoon
Students $ 5/day ($10 3-day rate)
- Free to students of the host campus and those under age 18.
Click here to register for the symposium: LINK COMING SOON
Friday Concert Ticket: Symposium Registrants: FREE
$20-General/ $5-Students with I.D./ FREE-Child under 12
Sunday Formal Gala: Enjoy being entertained in the Boone home, one of the rare
homes of Columbia.
Tickets $tbd
Tentative Itinerary (Subject to change)
DAY 1 (September 30th)
Columbia, MO 9am – 11am Second Baptist Church-Columbia
11am – 12:30pm Lunch
12:30 pm – 2pm Boone Site Tours
2pm – 5pm Boone County Historical Society 5pm – 7pm Dinner on your own
7pm Concert & Reception (University of Missouri-Columbia)
9pm Depart for Warrensburg (transportation provided)
DAY 2 (October 1st)
Warrensburg, MO 9am – 11am University of Central Missouri
11am- 12:30pm Boone Site Tours
12:30pm – 2pm Lunch on your own
2pm – 5pm University of Central Missouri
5pm Enjoy the Warrensburg
DAY 3 (October 2nd)
Jefferson City, MO 8am Depart for Jefferson City
(transportation provided)
10 am – 2:30 pm Lincoln University
3pm Depart for Columbia (transportation provided)
5:30pm Gala (John Willliam “Blind” Boone Home)
For additional Information email: jwblindboonesymposium@gmail.com
Travel Information:
Flights:
- Columbia Regional Airport is the closest option. It is small with flights to/from Chicago or Dallas (Columbia Regional Airport)
- To/From: St Louis (St. Louis Lambert International Airport) about two hours from Columbia. Shuttle service or car rental required.
- To/From: Kansas City (https://www.flykci.com/) about two hours from Columbia. Shuttle service or care rental required.
Ground Transportation:
- Various rental car companies are available at all airports.
- MOX shuttle service MO-X
Hotels: *Symposium rate registration deadlines are August 30, 2022. Call the hotel and state you are requesting the “JW Boone Symposium Group Rate.”
Columbia: Rates for Thursday, Sept 29 and/or Sunday, Oct 2
Downtown:
The Broadway Columbia, A DoubleTree by Hilton
Symposium Rate: $159 (incl: wi-fi)
1111 E. Broadway
Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 875-7000
The Tiger Hotel
Symposium Rate: $159 (incl: wi-fi)
23 South 8th Street,
Columbia, Missouri 65201
(573) 875-8888
Columbia: (15 minutes drive from Univ of Missouri/Second Baptist Church/Boone Home)
Best Western Plus
Symposium Rate: $84 (incl: Breakfast, parking, & wi-fi)
2904 Clark Lane
Columbia, MO 65202
(573) 397-6471
Best Western Plus Columbia Inn
Warrensburg: Rates for Friday, Sept 30 and Sat, Oct 1
Fairfield Inn & Suites
Symposium Rate: $159 king or $169 queen (incl: breakfast, parking & wi-fi)
355 E Russell Ave.
Warrensburg, MO 64093
660-422-3540
Fairfield Inn & Suites Website
Holiday Inn Express
Symposium Rate: $ 99 (incl: breakfast, parking & wi-fi)
1005 Hawthorne Boulevard
Warrensburg, MO 64093
660-656-2020
Visit the Cities Online:
Columbia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau
Warrensburg Convention & Visitors Bureau
Jefferson City Convention & Visitors Bureau
Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau
Banner image compilation courtesy of open source locations for copyrighted images before 1927.
*Banner Image Left: (sheet music) and left (Blind Boone name in frame)
Boone, Blind. TheSpring. Ditson, Oliver & Co., Boston, monographic, 1885. Notated Music. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/item/sm1885.23540/
+Banner image Right:
Eugenia and John William “Blind” Boone. Circa 1903 [SHS 001576] State Historical Society of Missouri.