Storyteller and Singer Tom McDermott performs little known, and not-soon-forgotten, stories from around the world and his own imagination. Told before a live audience of 500 elementary students. McDermott tells stories to over 40,000 kids of all ages each year across the U.S. He tells stories combining original music, wild and raucous characters, lively audience participation, his own deep wisdom and laugh-out-loud humor with an unusual variety of musical instruments including guitar, hurdy-gurdy, bodhran, flutes, ukulele, theremin and percussion. He has been a featured performer at festivals across the U.S. including the Tejas Storytelling Festival (TX), Winter Tales (OK), the New Salem Storytelling Festival (IL), Rocky Mountain Storytelling Festival (CO), the St. Louis Storytelling Festival (MO) and at the Exchange Place of the National Storytelling Festival (TN) as well as at schools, educational and professional conferences and camps for kids with special needs all across the country. “Tom’s storytelling - a little bit of Bill Cosby, a splash of the Three Stooges, throw in some timeless wisdom for flavoring and blend it all together for an unforgettable experience!” Joan Evans, Media Specialist, Klein ISD, Texas “The schools voted you the best program they have had!” Sarah Howard, Librarian, Columbia, MO “These stories tickle the funny bone while teaching some great ideas!” Bill Beard, Ntl Clearinghouse for Info on Drugs and Alcohol, Washington, DC. Tom is also the winner of the 2001 John Henry Faulk Award for Excellence and Contributions in Storytelling in the Southwest, and the 2003 National Irish Storytelling Competition. He is a touring artist with the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Mid-America Alliance of the Arts.