by Sven Kelling | Mar 27, 2019
“You hear people talking about the storytelling revival, but in Jewish culture it never died. I lived and breathed the tales during my childhood, unaware that this was anything unusual.” A dedicated and committed storyteller who has actively worked to expand and share her tradition, Shonaleigh is one of Europe’s leading storytellers. Having learned the Drut’syla tradition from the age of four from her Bubbe (grandmother), Sonaleigh shares the magic, mystery, and wisdom of her repertoire of over three thousand stories with audiences around the world.
by Sven Kelling | Mar 27, 2019
With mesmerizing melodies to envelop his touching tales, Sam Payne tells stories with songs and sings songs with stories, interweaving the two so seamlessly that there is no need to differentiate. An author, a songwriter, a teller, and a teacher, Sam blends all four disciplines together and creates a unique form of entertainment all his own. While you can catch Sam Monday through Friday at 2 pm Eastern on Sirius XM Radio, you don’t want to miss a chance to hear him live and in person.
by Sven Kelling | Mar 27, 2019
Drawing on a lifetime of varied and colorful experiences and peopled with genuine characters from all walks of life, Michael carries his Southern Appalachian youth with him as he wanders deliberately across this country and many others. With the intrinsic authenticity of a genuine balladeer, Harrell weaves the threads of his observations and experiences into a cozy afghan of tales, highlighted with wicked wit and poignant reflections.
by Sven Kelling | Mar 27, 2019
Josh Goforth must have been born musical—he was already playing piano in church at the age of four—but it was an experience he had in the sixth grade that really lit the fuse of his precocious musical career. A performance at Goforth’s middle school by Sheila Kay Adams caused him to start thinking about the musical heritage and stories of his native Madison County, NC. Josh was able to listen and learn from local masters like Gordon and Arvil Freeman and Jerry Adams. Goforth is a highly accomplished storyteller and acoustic musician playing close to 20 different instruments.
After high school he went to East Tennessee State University to study music education with a Euphonium concentration, and to be a part of ETSU’s famous Bluegrass and Country Music Program. In 2000, he played fiddle for the movie Songcatcher, both onscreen and on the soundtrack. He has toured extensively with a variety of ensembles, including the ETSU Bluegrass band, David Holt, Laura Boosinger, and with several bluegrass bands like Appalachian Trail, the Josh Goforth Trio, the Steep Canyon Rangers and Open Road. Josh has performed in all 50 US states, and all over Europe, Asia, and Australia. In 2000, 2003, and 2005, he was named Fiddler of the Festival at Fiddler’s Grove and, after winning the third title, was designated “Master Fiddler”; and retired from that competition. He has performed at the Grand Ole Opry, the Lincoln Center, as well as Carnegie Hall. In 2009, he was nominated for a Grammy for his album with David Holt entitled “Cutting Loose.” He currently is on faculty at the Academy for the Arts in Asheville and performs all over the world.
by Sven Kelling | Mar 27, 2019
Catherine Conant grew up in a large Italian family living in industrial New Jersey where stories were the currency of everyday life. She stitched together what she heard, and her imagination, to create powerful and entertaining stories about her world living in the shadow of the New Jersey Turnpike. For more than 25 years she has worked with individuals, groups, and organizations seeking to develop original stories for personal and community development. Skilled at using positive humor as a potent tool Catherine helps others create stories that can be both funny and poignant. She was the founding producer of the only outdoor storytelling event in Connecticut, the Doggone Storytelling Festival. For more than a decade she has been an experienced facilitator leading story development retreats for members of nonprofit and other organizations. As a consultant working with Dr. William Graustein, senior trustee of the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund, Catherine has a significant role in promoting his vision of storytelling as a dynamic force for strong community life in New Haven, CT. Some of the diverse groups with whom she has worked are; Project Longevity in New Haven, CT, Yale University Summer Intern program and the Clifford Beers Clinic. She has appeared at colleges, festivals and other settings, including The Moth, the Manhattan venue for ‘urban storytelling’, the Connecticut Storytelling Festival and the National Storytelling Festival. Catherine has produced two award-winning CD’s of original stories and her essays appear in more than a dozen publications. A mother and grandmother, when she’s not listening to or sharing stories she can be found in her garden or searching flea markets for hidden treasures.
