PORT TOWNSEND — Judith-Kate Friedman will be the featured teller for First Friday StoryNight tonight.
Friedman is an award-winning vocalist, producer and composer, organizers said, and is internationally recognized as a pioneer in community building through song. Her program “A Singer of Tales — Original and Traditional Stories in Song,” will draw from 35 years of creating and performing “poignant history songs, heart-lifting ballads of love, and stories of risk that celebrate liberation and transformation,” organizers said in a press release.
Hosted by the Quimper Storytelling Guild, tonight’s program from 7 to 9 also will include a set of oral shorts by a diverse range of tellers who sign up on arrival. A closing story-song connected to the evening’s theme will be provided by master of ceremonies Perry Spring.
The program will be at the Port Townsend Friends’ Meetinghouse, 1841 Sheridan St. Admission is by a suggested sustaining donation of $10. All are welcome.
“Friedman brings to StoryNight the bardic tradition as a singer of ancient and modern tales, a writer of sometimes epic story songs, and a carrier of resounding resilience from deep beneath the roots of the great story,” organizers said.
On tours through the U.K. and North America, she has shared the stage with mythtellers Daniel “3D” Deardorf and Martin Shaw, as well as with a founder of the international revival of storytelling, Gioia Timpanelli.
The nonprofit Songwriting Works, with Friedman as its founding director, has engaged more than 3,000 people.
From this work have come more than 300 original collaboratively created songs by elders, youth and families — with ages from 4 to 106 represented.
For more information, see songwritingworks.org.
Friedman is a regular contributor on the KPTZ radio show “Tossed Salad.”
While conducting sand performing involves traveling, she has made Port Townsend her home since 2006.
First Friday StoryNight is now in its 10th season.
Members of the Quimper Storytelling Guild gather monthly for a Third Sunday StoryCrafting Story Swap, where aspiring and experienced tellers hone their craft through a story swap and other activities from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Port Townsend Library Learning Center, 1220 Lawrence St.
For more information, see www.facebook.com/Quimper StoryGuild or contact QuimperStoryGuild@gmail.com or 360-316-9600.
Judith-Kate Friedman plays a guitar and sings as she tells a tale.
