Traditional Storyteller and Musician, Rachel Ann Harding is passionate about telling the most beautiful folk, myth, and traditional tales.
Rachel Ann weaves story and song together to create unique and entertaining storytelling events, keynotes and workshops that display the relevance of storytelling in our lives. She believes that fairytales are not just for children and mesmerizes audiences with old tales woven into new adventures.
Rachel Ann Harding began singing and playing a variety of instruments in her early twenties, crafting lyrics laced with tenderness and humor. She blends harmonies on the ukulele and looper to create melodies that connect to the heart and the ear. Her music has been called, “delightful, folksy, avant garde.”
She is based in Boulder, CO and is so willing to travel.
What story would you like to hear?
Biographies – Long and Short!
Pictures – Large and Small
Hear Here!
Snow White, Rose Red – NSN Fringe Performance 2014
The Princess and the Frog – Dec 2017
Jack and Death – House Concert 2019
NOTABLE FESTIVALS AND EVENTS: Santas House 2013-2016 | National Storytelling Network Conference 2014 – Fringe Guest (Phoenix, AZ) | National Storytelling Network Conference 2015 – Panel Guest (Kansas City, MI) | Boulder International Fringe Festival 2015-2016 |Boulder Family Fringe Festival 2015| Truth Be Told – Featured Teller June and August 2015 |Featured Teller at StoryCrossroads Storytelling Festival 2017, Salt Lake City UT |EmCee Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, Lehi, UT 2017 -2019 |Featured Performer on the Exchange Place Stage, International Storytelling Festival 2018, Jonesborough TN | New Voice at Stone Soup Storytelling Festival 2019, Woodruff SC
SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES: Community Montessori | Patience Montessori | Horizons Elementary | Creekside Elementary | Jarrow Montessori | Windsor Public Library,
ORGANIZATIONS: Niwot Knitting Circle | Amelia’s Mama’s | Fort Collins Tours, Living Arts School | Fraiser Meadows Retirement
No. I tell stories to people of all ages. However, I can read books to children with expression and interactive suggestions. I can also read silently, but no one has hired me for that particular skill yet.
I am a storyteller in the classic sense of the word. I search through dusty tomes and web archives looking for traditional or historical stories to reweave into an oral form and gift to audiences. I also listen to many other amazing storytellers and beseech them for their permission to use a story that they have told. There are many occupations that could be considered storytelling, and use storytelling quite effectively, however I do what storytellers did in the beginning and tell it with my mouth and some body movements.
Yes. Another way to put it is that I am a self-employed freelance artist. Or perhaps a person with a special set of skills that allows me to be in front of a large group of people or a gaggle of active children, and mesmerize them with story and song.
I am also a musician, certified Montessori preschool/kindergarten educator and Certified Tourism Ambassador for Fort Collins CO.
Anywhere I am invited to do so. I have told stories in churches, homes, Boulder’s Santa’s House, basements, old spooky garages, childrens and adults parties, old jail mortuaries, schools, preschools, childrens bedrooms, and car rides.
Yes! Invite me! I am located in Boulder CO and will travel anywhere near or far.
No! It is for all ages. Thus the creation of Stories with Spirit – we believe that fairy tales are too important to be only for kids.
I tell traditional and historical tales. The “once upon a time” and “long ago”. I will take you far away and bring you back safely. I have not yet delved into personal storytelling, though I do not hesitate to tell you a little about myself if you ask.
Yes. It is very helpful when I get a powerful need to eat. It also keeps me clothed and clean, which is preferable in a storyteller.
Storytelling was a huge part of my childhood, both in the form of books and parents telling me stories. I grew up (which is not as fun as it sounds) and one afternoon I realized that I was choosing the safe path for a career, and the things that really made me happy were storytelling and music.The next question was “Can anyone make a living as a storyteller?”, the answer is “Yes. But it takes work.” So I am putting in the work it takes to be a business owner who promotes myself as a storyteller and musician.
Storytellers will eventually take over the world. Or at least part of it, preferably the warm parts. You have been warned.