Inside Furman is published quarterly by the Furman University Department of Marketing and Public Relations. For story ideas, e-mail John Roberts, editor.
A new home for an old tradition
The Furman lakeside concert series, which attracts thousands to the university each summer, has a new home: the Furman Amphitheatre.
The Thursday-evening concerts, a summer staple since 1968, have traditionally been located behind the dining hall. This year, however, the music was moved 200 yards away to the renovated amphitheater.
Constructed in 1999 and designed to seat 450, the original amphitheatre included a stage and seating for approximately 1,000. In 2001, a stage shell was added. This spring workers completed a third round of improvements that included expanding the seating area by 100 feet and installing concrete pads and electrical/water infrastructure for temporary vending trailers.
Freestanding restrooms, lighted walkways and landscaping were also added. The installation of a new sound system and speakers in the nearby Bell Tower allows those picnicking or strolling around the lake to enjoy the live music.
Les Hicken, director of the summer concerts, says patrons and musicians – though wary at first – are embracing the new location.
“The sound quality is a thousand percent better,” says Hicken. “The setting is spectacular and the audience, because they sit above us, can see the musicians better.”
Hicken says the amphitheater and surrounding area will seat approximately 2,000. The bell tower sound system will project the music across the lake for anyone else on campus to enjoy.
The inaugural free concert series was held in 1968 and founded by former Furman Band Director Dan Ellis. The low-key event included about 25 musicians, most of whom were members of the Greenville Civic Band. It attracted several hundred curious spectators. Four additional concerts were held that summer.
In those early years the band played exclusively concert band music performed from the roof of the student center. However, shortly after that first year Ellis decided to spice up the concerts by adding jazz and Dixieland band performances. The popularity of the event grew and in 1973, the performers, now numbering 45, moved to the student center porch because the roof could no longer support them.
The series blossomed in the 1980s as word of the free summer concerts spread. Today, Furman resembles a busy city park during the 13 lakeside concert performances held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. On a typical summer concert evening, more than 4,000 spectators are drawn to the music and beautiful surroundings.