Part of the American Arts Experience St. Louis 2015! A celebration of American Arts
in St. Louis.
Timeline of activities
- 12:30 p.m. Food Trucks The Southerner and Pie Oh My! in parking lot K
- 12:30-2 p.m. Storyteller Marcia Ollinger tells stories and children's quilting and weaving projects
- 2 p.m. Music workshop on traditional American folk music featuring Ozark Mountain Music
- 3 p.m. Folk toy activity
- 4 p.m. Music session on the music of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Enjoy the musical roots of American folk music and culture at Explore Music! TRADITIONAL AMERICAN on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015 at the Community Music School of Webster University.
Kickoff the afternoon with stories by storyteller Marcia Ollinger and children's quilting and weaving projects, from 12:30-2 p.m. Marcia will share
stories Missouri Tales from the Ozarks, the Star Stealer from Texas and many more American themed stories.
Experience traditional American folk music featuring Ozark Mountain music with musicians Cathy
Barton, Dave Para, and Mike Fraser at 2 p.m. This engaging music workshop introduces audience members to the tradition
of hand-me-down music of the Ozark Mountains. Folk and traditional found instruments
will be demonstrated. Participants can sing-a-long and try instruments such as the
spoons, bones, jawbone, and drums.
Continue the journey to days gone by with an activity of toy making. All ages are
introduced to traditional old time folk toys and make their own toy at 3 p.m.
The final and most compelling music session of the day explores the music of the Lewis and Clark Expedition demonstrating how music played a significant role in the journey. Cathy Barton, Dave,
Para and Mike Fraser guide you on the expedition; join the music and fun at 4 p.m.
Food trucks The Southerner and Pie Oh My will be selling food beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Admission: FREE and open to the public. For all ages.
Participants can attend multiple workshops or just a single activity.
Cathy Barton and Dave Para have for 38 years created dynamic performances acclaimed for their variety and expertise
in vocal and instrumental music. They have celebrated the musical traditions and folklife
of Missouri and the Ozarks in festivals, clubs, concert halls, schools and studios
across the U.S. and Europe. Their audiences are as diverse as their repertoire.
A versatile duo, Dave and Cathy play several stringed instruments including hammered
and fretted dulcimers, banjo, guitar and autoharp, as well as "found" instruments
like bones, spoons, mouthbow and leaf. Their concerts present a range of music from
the lively dance tunes they have collected in their home region to old ballads to
new songs. They have conducted several instrumental workshops as well as those about
songs from the Civil War, from American rivers, old gospel songs, children's songs
and Christmas music. Of their 14 albums, four were named Notable Recordings by the
American Library Association, their two albums of music from the Civil War on the
western border, music of the Lewis & Clark journey and their traditional Christmas
album.
They began working with Young Audiences, Inc., in Kansas City doing school assembly
and residency programs. They were awarded the Lighton Award for Teaching Artist Excellence
in 2012.
Mike Fraser began playing folk music and learning guitar in college in the Northeast portion
of Missouri. focusing on Bluegrass, Old Time and Southern Rock. His first teaching
assignment was in the Ozarks of Southern Missouri, and became immersed in the culture
and the music of the Scots-Irish, who settled the area in the mid-1800’s. This region
provided a rich learning environment due to cultural traditions still in place such
as square dancing. He began learning the fiddle and mandolin by ear from local musicians,
and served as an apprentice for two years under a Master Square Dance Fiddler, (Bob
Holt) through the Missouri Arts Council’s Master/Apprentice Program. Bob was awarded
Smithsonian’s’ Heritage Fellowship in 1999 for his teaching efforts in traditional
music.
In 1986 after seven years teaching in public schools Mike began working with the Missouri
Department of Conservation, as an Education Consultant. His primary responsibility
was to develop, and implement a conservation education plan, for all schools within
the thirteen county Ozark Region of the state. This was done primarily through school
programs and teacher courses for credit, through various universities as adjunct faculty.
He began focusing on using music to teach conservation concepts, and in 2000 created
an educational CD titled “Fiddles and Forests” with music and narrative focusing on
the Scots-Irish Heritage and the forest resources of the Ozarks. The CD has sold approximately
8,000 copies since its release. In 2003 he moved to Kansas City to work with minorities
in an urban environment and joined with Cathy Barton and Dave Para to provide school
programs through Young Audiences. His avocation since 1986, has been performing with
various musicians and a band he formed (Shortleaf Band) consisting of old time, bluegrass,
Celtic, and original music.
Marcia Ollinger is a former elementary school teacher who was inspired to begin storytelling after
attending the St. Louis Storytelling Festival in 1984. Marcia's repertoire includes
traditional folktales from around the world, American and holiday stories, as well
as personal stories of growing up in St. Louis. She is a member of the Gateway Storytellers
of St. Louis, MO-TELL, and the National Storytelling Network. She has served as a
volunteer, a member of the festival planning committee, and a regional teller for
the annual St. Louis Storytelling Festival and the Kansas City Celebration. Marcia
believes that everyone, no matter what age, can enjoy a good story.
