Music to Light the World is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2004 by Stanton Lanier.
Our vision is to “bring peace to the soul” through scripture inspired piano.
Our mission is to create experiences of God’s peace and hope through scripture inspired piano recordings and performances.
Our passion is to bring a sense of peace, rest hope and healing to people’s lives and to be a positive influence in the instrumental music culture.
Offering peace, rest, hope and healing has been at the heart of Music to Light the World since its founding in 2004. People have shared amazing stories about the music making a difference in their life or health circumstances. Get Music - Give Hope is an initiative where Music to Light the World donates one album to a cancer center or hospital for every album purchased, in an effort to touch many new lives with a message of hope and healing. Can you help us give hope by sharing this vision with those you know in the medical community? Please contact us if you know a chaplain, volunteer coordinator, nurse or other leader who could help give away donated albums.
Music to Light the World History
The idea for Music to Light the World began with a belief that every human heart longs for peace, rest and hope in a hurried and hurting world.
1999 - While sampling peaceful, instrumental music in a bookstore the idea emerges to compose scripture inspired piano melodies that would express God’s peace and rest.
2000 - Home recording studio completed and first pieces composed.
2001 - First CD “Walk In the Light” recorded and given as a gift to friends and family.
2002 - Growing listener base and demand for music, first concert, website created, regular performances, second CD “Still Waters” released in December.
2003 - Music played on The Weather Channel in February and April, named one of “Ten Independent Artists You Should Know” by ChristianityToday.com, CD sales in over 30 U.S. states, first international CD sales (Canada, Germany, Sweden), first internet radio exposure, "Still Waters" piano book released, growing performance schedule.
2004 - Music to Light the World, Inc. incorporated as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, third CD “Draw Near” released in April, music available on iTunes and other digital services, became full-time pianist and composer performing more concerts with piano and visuals, growing internet and international following, CDs donated to Scottish Rite cancer patients, inner city ministry and orphanages.
2005 - Beginning of Stanton’s artist description Pianist of Peace™. Launched “Let Your Light Shine” concerts for K-12 students, donated 2,500 CDs to students and crisis pregnancy centers, music begins national airplay on Delilah radio show, recorded fourth CD “The Voice” at George Lucas Skywalker Sound Studio with producer Will Ackerman (Grammy Award winning Founder of Windham Hill Records), 57 performances for 7,500 people.
2006 - MTLTW reached milestones of music purchases in all 50 states and 10 foreign countries with 20,000 CDs distributed, “The Voice” CD is named #9 Contemporary Instrumental Album for 2005 by Solo Piano Publications, “The Voice” debuted at #12 on the new age radio charts, “The Voice” and the song “Peace” have multiple top 10 rankings on the Music Choice Soundscapes cable television channel, hosted and performed Atlanta concert with Will Ackerman, 85 performances for 8,500 people, 2,000 CDs donated to K-12 students.
2007 – Peace from The Voice CD ranked #1 in multiple weeks and regularly in the Top 10 on Music Choice Soundscapes cable television channel, played for 2,500 people at two real estate prayer breakfasts, played at the AFLAC Service of Remembrance for families who lost children to cancer, “The Voice” piano solos licensed to QRS Music for their player piano system, article “Pursuing Your Passions with a Sound Mind” was published in the June “Sound Mind Investing” newsletter (10,000 subscribers), released “The Voice” piano book, held release concert with live filming for Stanton’s fifth album “Unveiled,” his second project with Windham Hill Founder Will Ackerman as producer, Family Christian Stores ordered 6,000 “The Voice” CDs for employee Christmas gift.
2008 - Celebrated milestones since the founding in 2004, over 200,000 lives touched through 311 performances, 30,230 attendees, 22,260 CDs sold, 6,747 CDs given away, 109,872 digital listens / downloads, release of “Unveiled” Live Concert DVD, cancer patient initiative expanded with donated CDs and/or performances for AFLAC cancer centers at Emory and Scottish Rite, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Emory, Scottish Rite and Hughes-Spalding, Northside Hospital’s “Healing Sounds” and “Camp Hope,” and Valdosta Pearlman Cancer Center.
2009 - Began new initiative Get Music - Give Hope℠ to touch lives in cancer centers and hospitals across the U.S., release of sixth album “December Peace,” third project working with producer Will Ackerman, 85 performances (35 donated) for 10,000 people, international iTunes downloads happening in every territory, Music to Light the World featured on CBS 46 Atlanta “Good Deeds” segment, Words to Live By radio interview broadcast to 325 stations worldwide.
Leadership Team
Governance Board
Greg Gilbert - Chairman, Principal, Ronald Blue and Co.
Steve Papevies - Director, President, Southern Accessories Today
Jill Felts - Director, President, Compelling Creations
Stanton Lanier - Founder, President, Music to Light the World
Lorie Lanier - Secretary, Treasurer, Music to Light the World
Advisory Board
Raymond Walker - Chairman, President, The Walker Companies
Ken Boa - President, Reflections Ministries
Trey Miller - Realtor, Keller-Williams
Alan Lee - VP Talent Management, Zep, Inc.
Joe Colavito - VP External Development, Wells Real Estate
John Featherston - Sr. Director Real Estate, Chick-fil-A
Bob Morris - Former President and CEO, Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging
Michael Simmons - Technical Director, Northpoint Community Church
