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About Us |
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On November 20, 1982, approximately
12 people attended an informational meeting at the invitation of Les
Slaughter, owner of Whitewater Dulcimer Company at the time. Les had
sent 100 flyers to prospective members.
On December 4, 1982, an organizational meeting was held. Robert and Barbara Rowan gave us our club name. Mary Parker, Bob and Lois Liggett were to develop the Bylaws. Officers were elected. It was decided that meetings would be held the second Saturday of each month. In June of 1983 and after three moves, the GPDA settled into their present home at Immanuel Baptist Church in Wichita, Kansas. Through the years the GPDA has continued to grow. It added two yearly events to its calendar, the Iron Horse Club Benefit and the Winfield Warm-Up Picnic. Both events attract people from all parts of the state and nation. The Warm-Up Picnic even attracts international guests. Eventually the Club began to publish a monthly newsletter called "Strings and Things," to keep members up to date on GPDA happenings. Later on, the GPDA decided to give a name to its volunteer ensemble, and so the "Kansas Prairie Strings" was born. Bob Liggett named the newsletter, and Lois Liggett and Paula Murray put their heads together to come up with the name for the volunteer performance ensemble. The Kansas Prairie Strings is still available for performances. The GPDA is also home to many state, regional and national contest winners, competitors and champions. We are immensely proud of their accomplishments. The Great Plains Dulcimer Alliance is especially grateful to our founders who were dedicated to keeping alive the art of playing Hammered and Mountain Dulcimers, acoustic instruments of all types and the playing of folk and traditional music.
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