Biography

In 1998 Carol Birch received the National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence Award given to storytellers recognized as master tellers by their peers, setting standards for excellence, and demonstrating a commitment and dedication to the art over a significant period of time. Thirty years of experience have earned her a respected place in the forefront of the revival of platform storytelling: teaching at Southern Connecticut State University; lecturing at forty-one universities across the nation, as well as professional and corporate organizations; producing nine audio-anthologies for the National Storytelling Association; directing seventeen audio-cassettes for independent storytellers as well as August House, Lightyear Entertainment, and Weston Woods Studios; writing THE WHOLE STORY HANDBOOK: USING IMAGERY TO COMPLETE THE STORY EXPERIENCE; co-editing WHO SAYS? ESSAYS ON PIVOTAL ISSUES IN CONTEMPORARY STORYTELLING, the first book on the aesthetics of storytelling; serving as a chairperson of the Anne Izard Storyteller’s Choice Award; and producing three award-winning audio-cassettes of her own stories.

Media appearances include ABC’s NIGHTLINE and CBS, THIS MORNING, Channel 5 in Boston, National Public Radio, Glamour Magazine and the New York Times. She’s been a featured storyteller six times at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, and in videos of America’s foremost storytellers produced by the Cotsen Storytelling Project; McFeely-Rogers Foundation, The Storytelling Channel for Cable Vision’s Rainbow Programming, Hometown Entertainment, and the H. W. Wilson Company. Her storytelling includes invitational events in Australia, Canada, Germany, Norway, and Singapore, as well as theater concerts for adults, festivals for families, and school residencies throughout the United States.

Known for a compelling blend of energy, warmth, vulnerability, and directness, Carol restores orality and spontaneity to the fixed silence of stories found in print, but as a third-grader in North Carolina pointed out: “She knows that story ’cause she was there!”

Media Highlights

Interview on Art of Storytelling Show: Talking about Copyright Issues: http://www.artofstorytellingshow.com/2007/07/23/carol-birch-copyright/

RAINBOW PROGRAMMING (American Movie Classics, Bravo, The Independent Film Channel, etc) 1996-1998
Late Night Listening: Carol Birch, Storyteller
The Story Channel: The Storytelling Cafe Features Carol Birch
The Talebearers: Portraits of American Storytelling Artists Features Carol Birch

THE COTSEN STORYTELLING PROJECT – The Cotsen Children’s Library, Princeton University, New Jersey – 1997

STORYTELLING – The McFeely-Rogers Foundation Storytelling Project – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – 1996

NIGHTLINE – ABC Television, New York – July 5, 1993

GOOD MORNING, AMERICA – CBS Television, New York – October 31, 1990

A LIKELY STORY – Channel Five, Boston,, Massachusetts – 1989 (*Emmy Award Winning Series)

GOOD EVENING, AMERICA – with Noah Adams for National Public Radio – August, 1989.

GLAMOUR MAGAZINE – in “Women Right Now” – May, 1990.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – in the Sunday “Connecticut” section – November 26, 1989.

This list excludes hundreds of interviews for local newspapers and cable stations around the U.S.

Awards

The Parent-Teacher Association of New York – 2009

  • for outstanding contribution to generations of children in Chappaqua, NY.

National Storytelling Network – 1998

  • The Circle of Excellence Award given to those who are recognized by their peers to be storytellers, who set the standards for excellence and demonstrate a commitment and dedication to the art over a significant period of time.

Storytelling Institute of the Graduate School of Southern Connecticut State University

  • The Millennium Award – 2000 – for distinguished and outstanding teaching and service.
  • Outstanding Educator Award –1994 – in recognition of outstanding contributions as Master Teacher/Master Storyteller.

Author

THE WHOLE STORY HANDBOOK: USING IMAGERY TO COMPLETE THE STORY EXPERIENCE. August House, 2000.

  • The Anne Izard Storytellers’ Choice Award
  • Storytelling World – Gold Award

WHO SAYS? ESSAYS ON PIVOTAL ISSUES IN CONTEMPORARY STORYTELLING. Co-edited with Melissa Heckler; August House, 1996.

  • The Anne Izard Storytellers’ Choice Award
  • Storytelling World – Honor Award

Recording Artist

LOU GEHRIG: THE STORY OF A GREAT MAN – Silver Birch Productions, 2003.

  • Storytelling World – Honor Award
  • National Association of Parenting Publications – NAPPA – Gold Award

CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR – Frostfire, 1997.

  • National Association of Parenting Publications – NAPPA – Gold Award

SANDBURG, OUT LOUD! August House, 2002.

  • Parents’ Choice Award – Silver Award

Producer / Director

AFTER SCHOOL ON ORDINARY DAYS – Carol Birch and Carrie Krams

  • 2009 Winner winner Cultural Perspectives category, Alliance for Community Media
    Hometown Video Awards