History

The history of Community Concerts parallels in many ways that of the 20th century. Begun in the 1920s, the New York City-based cultural organization, Community Concerts^®, began booking outstanding professional musical artists to travel to small communities throughout the country and present concerts. For an annual membership fee, anyone could join and enjoy four concerts each season.

During the 1940s, several local women, including Charlotte Rupner, Lucille Cleveland, Besse Sipherd, Adelaide Ladd, and others, believed that bringing world-class performers to our Valley would benefit it. These determined ladies were willing to go door-to-door to promote interest in the effort to bring Community Concerts to the Antelope Valley. Early concerts were held in the A.V. College gym and, since 1991, have been offered at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center. As a bonus, members can attend concerts in neighboring communities throughout Southern California at no additional cost under the reciprocity program.