Donald Davis - Donald Davis was born in a Southern Appalachian mountain world rich in stories. "I didn't learn stories, I just absorbed them ," he says as he recounts tales and more tales learned from a family of traditional storytellers who have lived on the same Western North Carolina land since 1781. Davis grew up hearing gentle fairy tales, simple and silly Jack tales, scary mountain lore, ancient Welsh and Scottish folktales, and-most importantly-nourishing true-to-life stories of his own neighbors and kin.
Davis remembers, "I discovered that in a story I could safely dream any dream, hope any hope, go anywhere I pleased, fight any foe, win or lose, live or die. My stories created a safe experimental learning place.
And that is the way that Donald Davis has approached all of his learning places...as a student at Davidson Collage; as a graduate of Duke University Divinity School; as a retired Methodist minister; as former Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the National Storytelling Association; as featured teller at the Smithsonian Institution, the World's Fair, festivals and concerts throughout the United States and the world; as prolific author and producer of books and tapes of his works; as master teacher of workshops and storytelling courses; as a guest host for the National Public Radio Program "Good Evening"; and as father of four sons.
For Donald Davis, storytelling is a way of giving and living life. He invites each listener to come along, to pull deep inside for one's own stories, to personally share and co-create the common experiences that celebrate the creative spirit. For Donald Davis storytelling ",...is not what I do for a living...it is how I do all that I do while I am living."
Beth Horner (photo credit: Ron Gurule, Chicago) - Nationally acclaimed story artist Beth Horner came to the art of storytelling naturally. She was raised in Missouri by a grandmother who told her fairy tales learned from library books, an English professor mother who introduced her to literature and poetry, a sister who starred her in farmyard musical productions, and a farmer/meteorologist father who regaled her with stories of her ancestors – of both good and questionable repute!
In addition to working for NASA to collect the stories from the scientists behind the Apollo space missions, performing at the National Storytelling Festival, recording on Live from National Geographic, and receiving the National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence Oracle Award, Beth (who now lives in the Chicago area) is noted for her vivacious stage presence, comic sensibility and warm, energetic style.
Bil Lepp - Growing up in a family where it was always the responsibility of the listener to decide whether or not a story was true, Bil Lepp became adept at spinning tales and exaggerating circumstances at an early age. Audiences all across the country have been delighted by Bil’s hilarious tales and delightful insights into everyday life. Be it a plunger, a hunting trip, or a funeral, Bil can find the humor in any situation. A champion and veteran of the West Virginia Liars’ contest, Lepp explains that while his stories may not be completely true, they are always honest.
Bil Lepp is an award winning storyteller, author, and recording artist. Lepp’s recordings have received a Parent's Choice Approved award and an NAPPA Honors award. He published his first novel, Halfdollar, in 2008. He released a live DVD in 2009.
“Bil Lepp is one of the funniest men I have ever heard and what’s so amazing about Bil is that he makes you believe those wild stories he tells.” Kathryn Tucker Windham
Onawumi Jean Moss - Onawumi Jean Moss of Amherst, Massachusetts is a storyteller, narrator, keynote speaker and author. The performances of this talking book and rhythm master encourage pride of heritage, appreciation of cultural differences and recognition of kinship. This Tennessee native's first stories were learned from her parents and in church. Her mother, a self-taught reader conveyed, by example, the inherent relationship of context and story and life-lessons. Her father, a natural-born comedian, told riveting night-sky stories as well as eerie, sometimes funny, ghost stories. Today Onawumi is an accomplished storyteller in her own right- a significant accomplishment considering the fact that over the course of twenty-one (21) years, she was a full-time Associate Dean of Students at Amherst College (1985-2006).
During her career as a part-time storyteller, Onawumi has made content-rich, thought-provoking and entertaining presentations before inter-generational audiences across the U.S. and in the Netherlands. Her solo performances, workshops and keynotes, a seamless blend of story and a cappella singing, have consistently won high praise from audiences–kindergarten through college. The same is true of audience feedback from civic, community, religious and business sectors.
Onawumi's story programs inspire imagination, inquiry, reflection and expression and also complement the study of communications, the humanities, performance, the social sciences and history.
