Stanton Lanier

Artist Information

Biography

From his 2011 Best Neo-Classical Album nomination (ZMR Music Awards) and 2011 Notable Sacred Music selection (Christianity Today) for "A Thousand Years," to his 2009 Best Holiday Album "December Peace" (ZMR Music Awards, winning over Enya and Yo-Yo Ma), the words "calming, soothing, and uplifting" have become a universal description by a global listening audience. His mission to offer "peace and rest in a hurried world" is accomplished through instrumental piano, exquisite visuals and captivating stories from his life and music. Some of Stanton's favorite concert moments are when he interacts with the audience, demonstrating how he composes, and involving them in the creation of a new melody right before their eyes (and ears).

Stanton's unlikely beginnings as a chemist and then a financial planner beg for a fuller understanding of how he came to create seven albums, with four produced by Windham Hill Records Founder William Ackerman. He began piano lessons at age six growing up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He wanted to quit piano in middle school because of basketball, but his parents didn't let him. Stanton wrote his first song at age fourteen in Milton, Florida and continued to play and write songs while completing a chemistry degree at Georgia Tech and an MBA at the University of Georgia. Five years into seemingly successful consulting and sales jobs, "career surrender" is the self-described state that found the thirty-year old artist in 1994 struggling to find his purpose.

While still working as a financial planner, Stanton's first three self-produced recordings gave rise to a deeper and more urgent calling to completely let go of the practical direction his career was taking. "Walk in the Light," "Still Waters" and "Draw Near" were produced between 2000 and 2004 using his keyboard and computer. In 2003 two tracks from Still Waters were played on The Weather Channel's Local on the 8s, leading to CD orders from thirty states and listener testimonies from homes, businesses and hospitals across the U.S.

In 2004 Stanton sent an email to the legendary Will Ackerman, Grammy® Award winning guitarist and Founder of Windham Hill Records, asking him if he would produce his 4th album. Will accepted and brought Stanton to the George Lucas Skywalker Sound Studio in California to record The Voice. This special friendship and professional relationship between two great artists has spanned seven years and four albums. Ackerman says, "Stanton is among the finest pianists and composers on the contemporary scene . . . his original compositions and brilliant arrangements are filled with soaring inspiration and remarkable peace . . . they add beauty and peace to a world deeply in need of it."

Unveiled was released in 2008, and the music reach expanded across radio, television and the internet, including Music Choice's "Soundscapes" cable channel, Sirius-XM Radio's "Spa" channel, Les Mills BodyBalance workout DVDs, Lifetime TV's highest rated show Army Wives, NPR, Delilah and Solo Piano Radio. December Peace (2009), a signature collection of traditional and original melodies, is described by leading instrumental reviewer Bill Binkelman as "easily considered the long-hoped for sequel to George Winston’s now undeniable classic December."

Will Ackerman's words are the perfect description for A Thousand Years (2011). "In his newest recording, Stanton has gracefully and brilliantly combined his composition with references to J.S. Bach, Chopin, Mozart and Pachelbel and a host of well known hymns including Amazing Grace, Holy, Holy, Holy and the Doxolgy among others. Somehow these different worlds and different times meld beautifully in Stanton's heart and hands to create something which is at once new and yet filled with a sense of tradition and ageless import. It is Stanton's most ambitious recording to date and he has achieved all he set out to do. He has now generated a catalogue of heartfelt music which offers peace to a world deeply in need of help."

Stanton founded Music to Light the World 501(c)(3) in 2004, with a vision to offer peace, rest, hope and healing. Get Music Give Hope? is a program where for every album purchased, one album is donated to a cancer center or hospital (over 20,000 CDs have been donated since November 2009). Stanton lives in Atlanta with his wife and two children, and enjoys sports and cooking. One of his favorite quotes is "Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive" (Wild at Heart by John Eldredge).

Instrumentation

Stanton Lanier - grand piano

Discography

A Thousand Years (2011) - CD and Piano Book
December Peace (2009) - CD and Piano Book
Unveiled (2008) - CD, Live Concert DVD and Piano Book
The Voice (2005) - CD and Piano Book
Draw Near (2004) - CD and Piano Book
Still Waters (2002) - CD and Piano Book
Walk in the Light (2001) - CD and Piano Book

Music airplay on XM Radio "Spa," Music Choice "Soundscapes," Pandora, Lifetime TV's "Army Wives," The Weather Channel, Delilah, Solo Piano Radio, and many other sources.

Official Website

http://www.stantonlanier.com

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter

Audio

• Awaken The Dawn
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• Across The Skies
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• Bread Of Angels
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• Vive La Joye
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• Peace
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• Discovery
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• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
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• Shepherds and Stars
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Video

Stanton Lanier Promo Video (3 min)

Photo Gallery

Press

• Soaring Inspiration, Remarkable Peace [+ Show ]
  

  "Stanton's music is filled with both soaring inspiration and a sense of remarkable peace. His four r..."Stanton's music is filled with both soaring inspiration and a sense of remarkable peace. His four recordings I have produced demonstrate why he is among the finest composers and pianists on the contemporary scene."

• Transported Our Audience [+ Show ]
  

  "Stanton Lanier's music, visuals and narrative transported our audience to a world where peace preva..."Stanton Lanier's music, visuals and narrative transported our audience to a world where peace prevails. That's a tremendous gift in these troubled times. What a relief to escape to that place for a while and to have our spirits refreshed!"

• Perfect Start to the Holiday Season [+ Show ]
  

  “Stanton Lanier’s December Peace concert was the perfect start to the holiday season. The audience w...“Stanton Lanier’s December Peace concert was the perfect start to the holiday season. The audience was mesmerized by his performance. The images and stories between his compositions made the evening feel intimate and that you were brought into his world. We look forward to having him perform again.”

• Flawless (A Thousand Years - 2011 Top Ten Albums) [+ Show ]
  

  "It appears that pianist Stanton Lanier has done it again. I was quite taken with his previous album..."It appears that pianist Stanton Lanier has done it again. I was quite taken with his previous albums Unveiled and December Peace, and I gave them both an excellent rating. Well, he leaves me no choice, but to do it again. His latest work A Thousand Years combines his spellbinding technique on acoustic piano with simple, yet polished additions of voice, English horn and guitar. Stanton's latest offering is flawless in its production as well as its emotion."

• Class Act (December Peace - 2009 Best Holiday Album) [+ Show ]
  

  "The class act of this year’s crop of holiday music recordings is certainly December Peace. From its..."The class act of this year’s crop of holiday music recordings is certainly December Peace. From its cover graphics to the mixture of originals and traditional tunes, this wonderful CD from Lanier could easily be considered the long-hoped for sequel to George Winston’s now undeniable classic December."

• A Winning Combination [+ Show ]
  

  "Listening to a Stanton Lanier performance, you will be powerfully moved by the way in which his pia..."Listening to a Stanton Lanier performance, you will be powerfully moved by the way in which his piano speaks to you. From a presenter's standpoint, Stanton is a delight - humble, sincere, well prepared and devoted to his audience - a winning combination. He is the real deal."

• 2011 Notable Sacred Music Selection [+ Show ]
  

  "The Atlanta-based pianist and composer Stanton Lanier learned the power of music after leaving the ..."The Atlanta-based pianist and composer Stanton Lanier learned the power of music after leaving the corporate world to pursue a career in music ministry. His seventh solo recording, A Thousand Years delivers the message of God's hope and peace with soothing hymn melodies wrapped around familiar classical tunes. Through his innovative Get Music Give Hope initiative, part of Lanier's Music to Light The World ministry, these CDs will find their way into countless hospitals and cancer centers, offering comfort through mesmerizing, gentle compositions. The title track forms the thematic foundation stemming from the Psalmist's words, "A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night," and here Lanier combines an original melody with "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and "It Is Well with My Soul." Every selection is inspired by Scripture and incorporates something familiar with something new. "For a Lifetime of Blessing" centers on The Doxology, while "Across the Skies" features Pachelbel's Canon in D. A touch of English horn, guitar and vocals gives the sensation of beauty and inspiration, allowing for meditation, reflection and quiet worship."

Setlist

Stanton typically performs listener favorites from his seven albums (8-9 selections for a 1 hour concert, 12-15 selections for a 2 hour concert with intermission). His unique concerts blend signature melodies, captivating visuals, inspiring stories and audience interaction to entertain all ages.

In 2012-2013 he is offering his "A Thousand Years Tour" titled after his 2011 Best Neo-Classical Album Nominee. He features his "December Peace" concert during November and December with music from this 2009 Best Holiday Album Winner.

Basic Requirements

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