Dr. Karen Adams

Nedra Frodge

David Small Exhibit

Elizabeth Jane Baldry

Bill Harley

Sole Full of Rhythm

Kevin Corbett

John McCutcheon

Tom Woodruff

Tonya Dallas

MountainTown Singers

eBand

Wally Reid

Bonnie Ekdahl and Frank Kequom

Mike Shiley

Dr. Karen Adams

CMU's College of Education and Human services dean presents the workshop New Children's Books and Emerging Authors - the Keys to a life-Long Fascination with Reading. Adams began to cultivate her interest in children's literature when she enrolled in a college course in which she identified new books for her younger sister. Later, as an elementary teacher, she always challenged her young readers with the magic of books, drama and songs.

Elizabeth Jane Baldry
“Fairies and Harps in Victorian England”

Elizabeth studied music at Exeter University and harp at London’s Royal College of Music.  She gives over 100 performances a year as well as appearing regularly on television and radio.  Many of her compositions have been used by ITV, the BBC and by Irish, Japanese and Canadian film companies.  During her performance you will hear the first American performances in modern times of Victorian fairy harp music recently discovered in archives and the stories behind the music.

Dr. Kevin Corbett -
Faculty, School of Broadcast and Cinematic Arts
“Crazy or What” 

Filmmaker Kevin Corbett calls his documentary Crazy or What “a light-hearted look at the nature of obsession.”  This CMU School of Broadcast and Cinematic Arts faculty member made the film after people responded to his training for a 100 mile bike ride as “crazy.”  The documentary follows him as he trains for his ride and contains interviews with other people who have "crazy" obsessions.

Tonya Dallas

This Detroit-native actor, storyteller, and lover of books credits much of her material to her family and personal experiences. Her 20-year career has included storytelling, public speaking, founding the Just Us Girlz Book Club of Michigan, and starring in the movie drama LOVE, the hit gospel play, I Won’t Complain and the Broadway musical, The Wiz

eBand

Founded in 1999, eBand features improvisational music characterized by an eclectic mix of influences -- jazz, world music and electronic music. The group performs at schools, jazz festivals and music conferences throughout Michigan and was featured at the 2001 CMS /ATMI conference in Santa Fe, and the 2002 MENC National Conference in Nashville.

The instruments they use do not actually produce an acoustic tone, but instead send "musical data" to a device that can synthesize almost any sound the performer wishes.

Instruments utilized in eBand: Guitar/Roland GR-33 synth, Yamaha WX-5 wind controller, marimba Lumina, Roland HandSonic percussion controller, V-drum kit.

Bonnie Ekdahl and Frank Kequom
“Grandpa’s Stories”

Frank Kequom, an American Indian World War II Veteran and his daughter, Bonnie Ekdahl will share "Grandpa's Stories" which features unquie first-hand historical accounts of what it was like growing up Native American in the U.S.

Dr. Nedra Frodge
– Faculty, Art Department

The Stories from the Underground Railroad presentation focuses on the images and stories of individuals who helped slaves escape captivity. Most of the images depict Underground Railroad stations in Ohio and Indiana.

Bill Harley
In and Out of Trouble:  Songs and Stories for Everyone

A recording and performing artist, author and playwright, Bill has been touring nationally for over 20 years.  Entertainment Weekly called him “the Mark Twain of children’s music” and Family Fun Magazine, “the finest, funniest children’s songwriter.”  His original work combines song and story to paint a vibrant, humorous and meaningful portrait of life as a child today.  He has appeared numerous times at the National Storytelling Festival, many regional festivals and in thousands of schools.  Recipient of a Grammy Award in 2007 and numerous Parent’s Choice Gold Awards, he is also author of five children’s books and a regular commentator on NPR's, All Things Considered.

John McCutcheon

John McCutchen is an instrumentalist, a master of a dozen different traditional instruments, most notably the rare and beautiful hammer dulcimer.  His songwriting has been hailed by critics and singers around the globe.  His 24 recordings have garnered every imaginable honor, including five Grammy nominations.  John's music and his storytelling style have been compared to Will Rogers and Garrison Keillor.  Besides his usual circuit of major concert halls and theaters, John is equally at home in an elementary school auditorium, a festival stage or farm rally.  During the past several years John has also recorded four albums, authored a songbook and a children’s book and has scored several videos.

MountainTown Singers -
Barbershop chorus

This premier Mount Pleasant - based male chorus fosters and advances the art of barbershop harmony. The group is a Barbershop Harmony Society Member.

Wally Reid -
Magician

Reid demonstrates the importance of reading in his wonderul magic show - The Magic of Reading.

Mike Shiley
Sponsored by:  On the Fly Productions

An award-winning filmmaker, lecturer and journalist, has lived in and traveled throughout the Middle East and covered wars in Iraq and Kosovo. Shiley will screen and speak about his documentary film, Inside Iraq: the Untold Stories.

Nichol Trio

CMU school of music faculty member John Nichol and his sons, Jonathan and Jason, interject a wide variety of stories and humor into their performance of classical and jazz favorites.

David Small Exhibit
“A David Small World”
This exhibit was organized by the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, Abilene, Texas.

A native of Detroit, David Small received the Caldecott Award in 2001. He has illustrated 33 picture books and authored six. The 71 illustrations in this exhibit are drawn from 18 of his books including Imogene’s Antlers, Paper John and So You Want to be President?

Sole Full of Rhythm

Thi Ypsilanti-based jazz dance troupe featuring Sara Randazzo and Rick Roe tells stories by dancing to swing, funk, blues and Latin compositions accompanied by live piano and hand drums.

Tom Woodruff

The Michigan Story Festival’s muralist works with Morey Charter School students on creating the annual festival mural.  These murals feature highlights and the essence of the festival from the previous year.