Charlotte Blake Alston

Charlotte Blake Alston is one of the most sought-after storytellers in the country. Traditional and contemporary African and African American stories come to life with every word or song, rap or drumbeat — performed with exuberance. Alston is the first storyteller to perform with The Philadelphia Orchestra on both their Children’s and Youth concert series. Alston is also a featured performer, host and narrator on two Carnegie Hall series. “Eloquent storytelling.” (The New York Times)

Alston offers interactive programs for schools, children and family audiences, incorporating myths, legends, history, poetry and songs enhanced with traditional instruments such as djembe, ngoni and the 21-stringed kora. Residency activities include workshops for teachers and storytellers, lecture/ demonstrations for students of all ages, and performances for adult audiences.