2022 Performers
Bil Lepp
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Bil Lepp's humorous, family friendly tall-tales and stories have earned the appreciation of listeners of all ages and from all walks of life. Though a five time champion of the West Virginia Liars’ Contest, Lepp’s stories often contain morsels of truth which present universal themes in clever and witty ways. Audiences all across the country, from grade schools to corporate execs to the Comedy Central’s Hudson stage, have been delighted by Bil’s mirthful tales and delightful insights into everyday life. Bil’s books and audio collections have won awards including the PEN Steven Kroll Award for Children’s Book Writing, Parents’ Choice Gold awards, and awards from the National Parenting Publications Assoc., and the Public Library Assoc. Bil is a regular at our Sounds of the Mountains Festival, and he did NOT, we repeat "DID NOT" get lost in the forest while hiking here at Camp Bethel with his young family.
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Lynn Ford
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A nationally recognized and award-winning fourth-generation storyteller, author and educator, Lyn Ford shares folktale adaptations, spooky tales, and original stories rooted in her family’s multicultural African-American Appalachian (Affrilachian) heritage. Ford’s “Home-Fried Tales” are seasoned with rhythm, rhyme, audience interaction, humor, and heart. Lyn is a teaching artist with the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education, a workshop facilitator for the Ohio-based collaborative initiative of the Kennedy Center, and a Thurber House mentor for young authors. She is also an award-winning author and a two-time recipient of the NSN ORACLE Circle of Excellence.
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Len Cabral
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Len Cabral is an internationally acclaimed storyteller who has been enchanting audiences with his storytelling performances at schools, libraries, museums and festivals since 1976. A great grandson of a Cape Verdean whaler whose grandparents immigrated to America from the islands off the coast of West Africa, Len’s strong Cape Verdean ancestry comes alive in his exuberant retelling of African, Cape Verdean, and Caribbean folktales as well as original stories and tales from around the world. Len has performed at festivals in Ireland, Belgium, Austria, Holland and Canada. He is the recipient of the National Storytelling Network 2001 Circle of Excellence Oracle Award.
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Beth Horner
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With a comic sensibility and warm, energetic style, Beth Horner possesses a repertoire of stories that has been called “heartfelt, articulate and truthful.” Her stories are renowned for their high comedy and stunning drama. A National Storytelling Network Circle of Excellence Oracle Award winner, Beth has been sought after as a storytelling performance and teaching artist since 1983. She has performed multiple times at the National Storytelling Festival, on Live From National Geographic, at Miami’s International Art of Storytelling Festival, and most recently served as narrative consultant for NASA/Johnson Space Center’s Story Mining project for which she collected the stories of the scientists behind the Apollo Space Missions. An acclaimed performer, Beth Horner takes her listeners on journeys of adventure, warmth, wonder, haunting eeriness and raucous laughter.
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Josh Goforth
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Josh Goforth grew up in Madison County, North Carolina, surrounded by the music and stories of his ancestors. He is a highly accomplished storyteller and old-time, bluegrass, and swing musician playing close to 20 instruments. His fiddling was featured in the movie Songcatcher, both onscreen and on the soundtrack. He has performed in all 50 states, throughout Europe, Asia, and Australia, and gracing such stages as Carnegie Hall and The Grand Ole Opry. He was nominated for a Grammy for his 2009 release with David Holt, entitled Cutting Loose. He is a favorite at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN.
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Thank you for your gift! Donate on line here, or mail a check payable to "Camp Bethel SOTM Festival", 328 Bethel Road, Fincastle, VA 24090.
