Chris Kastle - Bio

The songs and stories of Chris Kastle have been described as "exquisite" and possessing "powerful imagery". Her performances are a rich blend of original works and those drawn from folk tradition. They captivate, entertain and transport people of all ages.

She presents traditional and original songs using guitar, fiddle, penny whistle, mandolin and drum. Her spoken word repertoire includes personal, traditional and original material. On occasion, Chris also creates whimsical and endearing puppets for use with younger audiences.

She has been a professional touring musician and storyteller, songsmith and writer for half a lifetime throughout the United States and in Canada, Europe and New Zealand. As a solo artist, Chris has performed at festival, concert, school and library venues. She is on the faculty at the Old Town School of Folk Music and is an instructor for the Inland Seas Education Association. Individual residencies have included the "Better Parenting Through the Arts" Program with Aunt Martha's Youth Center and the "ARTE" Program with the Illinois Immigrant Council. Chris was also chosen as a featured performer for the Chicago Public Library Summer Reading Program doing 40 concerts citywide. Additionally, she is the Executive Director of Common Times, the folk-arts organization that produces the "Chicago Maritime Festival" and the "Chinquapin Folk Music and Storytelling Festival" and co-recipient of the 2007 Lantern Bearer Award of the Folk Alliance Region Midwest.

Her presentations for children and families are delightful. Her Artist-in-Residence programs are exemplary, not only because they augment and fulfill a host of educational standards, but also because they give students the chance to work with a professional, practicing artist who can give insight into pursuing the arts as a viable career -- and her teacher in-services have proven to be immediately useful in the classroom.

RESUME - CHRIS KASTLE

P.O. Box 56474, Chicago, IL 60656-0474, USA,
773-774-7216, 773-576-7245 chriskastle@yahoo.com, www.chriskastle.com

OVERVIEW

EDUCATION

M.A.S. Human Ecology, Governor's State University, 1979; B.A. Geography/Political Science, University of Illinois, 1972

SELECTED APPEARANCES

SELECTED RADIO AND TELEVISION APPEARANCES
"Studs Terkel Show" WBEZ, "The Midnight Special" WFMT, "Folk Festival" WDCB, "848" WBEZ, "Insight" WTMX, "River City Folk", "The Michael Stock Show" WLRN, "Bound For Glory", "Gene Shay Show" WHYY', "Absolute Artistry", "Outdoor Wisconsin", "Wild Chicago", "Chicago Stories", "Artbeat Chicago", "Stage 9", WBBM News Chicago, "Prairie Harvest"

SELECTED HONORS, GRANTS/JURIED ROSTERS
Lantern Bearer Award, Folk Alliance Midwest Region, 2007, Founders' Award, Shanties '93, Krakow, Poland, Arts-in-Education Rosters for Missouri, Illinois, Delaware, Indiana, ArtsTour, Michigan Humanities Council, Chicago Office of Fine Arts, Community Arts Assistance and Neighborhood Arts Programs, Illinois Arts Council, Special Assistance Grant, 1995, 1999, 2005, Arts International, Festival Travel Grant

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS AND ARTS PLANNING
Chicago Maritime Festival, since 2003 (Co-Director and Founder), Chinquapin Folk Music and Storytelling Festival (Co-Artistic Director 1995 - Present), Northern Michigan Early Care and Education Conference "Instruments and Their Stories", Michigan Reading Association, "Building Self Esteem and Cultural Awareness Through Creative Writing and the Folk Process", Folk Alliance Conference, "Independent Record Production", "Presenter - Performer: Both Sides of the Coin"