Featured Storytellers 2011

October 14th, 15th and 16th

Charlotte Blake Alston, master storyteller, singer and narrator whose repertoire includes stories and songs from the African and African-American experience. Her voice is a hypnotic instrument and draws the listener in with gesture or drum beat. The listener is reconnected with magic, flying slaves, epic arguments and tall tales. Winner of the Hazlett Memorial award, she has been heard many times at the Smithsonian and in “Crossroads,” a national magazine of culture and the arts.

Michael Reno Harrell is a singer, songwriter, and a storyteller. He hails from the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Michael’s recordings top the American Music Association charts year after year. He has toured the British Isles and much of Europe as well as the U.S. sharing songs and stories that reflect an insight into people’s experiences that catch the ear like an old friend’s voice.

Patrick Ball tours extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada and is considered one of the premier Celtic Harpers and storytellers in the world today. He has recorded nine instrumental and three spoken word albums which have sold well over one half million copies collectively. This will be an encore appearance by Patrick as he was a featured performer at the second Forest Storytelling Festival in 1995.

Paul “Che oke’ ten” Wagner from Seattle , is an internationally performing ambassador of traditional songs and stories from his Coast Salish tribal ancestors. Accompanying his stories with the Native American flute, Paul’s instrumental songs have come to him from visions of healing and prayer for all relations, tree, people, animal people, and humans alike.

Ingrid Nixon A native of Port Angeles, Ingrid Nixon’s work in expedition tourism has propelled her about the planet: from Antarctica to Greenland, Madagascar to Easter Island. While traveling, she shares stories such as the epic adventures of Antarctic explorers, like Sir Ernest Shackleton. She currently lives in interior Alaska where she works for the National Park Service, leading the interpretation and education programs in Denali National Park and Preserve.