Greenwood-Lander Performing Arts
About Greenwood-Lander Performing Arts
A rich history
In 1946, a group of Greenwood citizens and civic club representatives, presided
over by Lander University President Dr. John M. Rast, inaugurated a concert series of “
top-flight musical entertainments.” Thus were the seeds planted for a series which, more than half
a century later, is flourishing under an organization now called Greenwood-Lander Performing Arts.
A community-university partnership, GLPA each year brings some of the world’s most talented
musicians, dancers, singers and actors to the stage of the Lander Cultural Center Auditorium.
Visiting artists have included the Harlem Boys Choir, pianist Misha Dichter, soprano Dawn Upshaw,
the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, the Moscow Festival Ballet, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and many
others.
In addition to its subscription concert series, GLPA sponsors cultural outreach programs as a
way to introduce area young people to the diverse world of performing arts.
Contact:
Myra Greene Shaffer, GLPA executive director, CPO Box 6044, Lander University, Greenwood, SC
29649 • (864) 388-8326 • e-mail
glpa@lander.edu
GLPA's office - Lander University's Barratt Hall Room 101.
GLPA’s Mission
Purpose: Greenwood-Lander Performing Arts exists for the purpose of cultural enhancement of Lander University, Greenwood and surrounding communities; its primary purpose is to sponsor an annual concert series.
Mission statement: It is the mission of Greenwood-Lander Performing Arts to enhance the quality of life in Greenwood and the surrounding communities by educating, entertaining and culturally enriching its citizens, including those who are part of the Lander University community. More specifically, our goals are:
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To stimulate interest in the arts and to promote cultural awareness
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To promote arts education through cultural experiences
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To broaden the cultural vision of audiences through diverse performances
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To present the highest quality performances possible
