
History
World-renowned pianist Theodore Lettvin (1927-2003) proposed the idea for Great Lakes PAA during his tenure as professor of piano at the University of Michigan’s School of Music. Professor Lettvin became concerned when his graduating students, discouraged by the lack of performance opportunities available to them in this area, left for New York, California, Europe, or gave up on the idea of performing all together. To address this issue, Professor Lettvin and his wife, Joan, envisioned an organization that would focus on artists’ talent and promise, rather than their ability to generate profits. In 1978, after thorough research and planning, Joan Lettvin established Great Lakes Performing Artist Associates, a regional, not-for-profit artist management organization. It was good for the artists, good for the region, and good for the performing arts. Today Great Lakes PAA celebrates over 35 years of excellence in the arts, and its mission is as vital to regional artists and audiences as it ever was. The National Endowment for the Arts described PAA as “a resource unlike any other.”

Great Lakes Performing Artist Associates
A unique non-profit arts organization, GLPAA was founded in 1978. Its mission is to encourage the cultural and artistic development of the Great Lakes region by supporting the performance careers of exceptional regional artists. By offering high caliber artists at affordable fees to regional performing arts presenters, we extend the strength and vitality of cultural enrichment to a greater and more diverse population. These presenters include college, church, and community concert series, regional orchestras, schools, libraries, and “non-traditional” venues such as community centers and nursing homes. Great Lakes PAA’s artists present concerts, recitals, master classes, workshops residencies, and educational programs throughout the Great Lakes region.
Because of its not-for-profit status, Great Lakes PAA can focus on artists’ talent and promise rather than their ability to finance the cost of managing a performance career. To that end, PAA seeks out and carefully selects talented artists from this region to join its roster and supports them by providing performance-career management services.
Listen to Aileen Rohwer, GLPAA executive director on the WEMU creative-impact radio show.






Staff
Amanda Stanger-Read, Executive Director
Originally from the East Coast, Amanda earned a degree in English and Dance at Columbia University. She moved to Ann Arbor in 1992 to pursue an MFA in Dance at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance. After graduating, to support her performance career, she taught dance all around Washtenaw County, at the University of Michigan, Flint and wrote dance and music previews for the Ann Arbor Observer. To further supplement her income Amanda wound up working at GLPAA as an Administrative Assistant to Elizabeth Humes, the Executive Director at the time. Amanda left in early 1998 to start a family and a few years later opened her own dance and music studio, Arts in Motion, with her husband Scott Read. In the Spring of 2021, Amanda decided to close Arts in Motion mostly due to the pressures of Covid. Now, Amanda brings her career full circle by joining GLPAA again, this time as Executive Director, equipped with the knowledge of the challenges that performing artists face as well as the experience of running a business.
Amanda is excited to continue GLPAA’s mission to support talented artists, find new performance venues, participate in educational programs, interact with and bring music to audiences and students throughout the Great Lakes region.




Board of Directors
John taught Economics, Political Economy and Business in the Chicago area at Moraine Valley Community College, Prairie State College, and DePaul University. He is married, and has three children. BA Oberlin College, Master of Public Policy University of Michigan, Master of Science in Accounting DePaul University.
Advisory Board
From Fairbanks, Alaska, Ms. Woods continues to perform throughout the metro Detroit area and is a member of the Dexter Community Orchestra. She currently serves on the boards of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance Alumni Society and the Community Music School of Ann Arbor. In her free time, she loves spending time with her daughter and her dog.