"I truly believe that we can unlock the puzzle of learning with story. Whether I am on a stage with 800 adults or in a room with 50 preschoolers, I realize that when stories are told, people stop worrying about what to say, and enjoy what is being shared. Soon the room becomes alive with learning.”

-- Kevin Cordi Award-Winning Storyteller, Teacher, and Author     

Introducing Kevin Cordi

"As an organizer of an event that incorporates 20,000 guests if you are looking for a performer who can enchant audiences, call Kevin."

-- Catherine Paparella, Program Director     

For over twenty years, Kevin has told stories in over forty states, England, and Japan. His story work has been commissioned by the National Youth Storytelling Hall of Fame, Newsweek, and The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. As a story teacher he is considered one of the “nation’s primary advocates for youth storytelling!"

Kevin shares stories with a highly energetic, animated and interactive style and is considered by many storytelling professionals as one of the most influential and dynamic storytellers and teachers today. With each story he tells, the audience connects with Kevin—his passion shines through. His work is a must see for adults and kids alike.

Kevin listens everywhere he goes. He keeps an ear to the ground so that he can hear the stories of America and beyond---he tells the stories he hears. He shares the stories of people such as Mooney Warther, considered the greatest wood carver in the country and the legendary Chocolate Bar Bomber and his air drops during the Berlin Air Lift. He listens and he tells the stories he hears. He uses his experience and critical listening skills as the landscape for teaching and developing stories. He believes good storytelling begins with effective listening. He has worked as an actor, teacher, door-to-door salesman (at age 14), disc jockey and gas station attendant. He believes this only enriches him as a storyteller and story teacher.

On Stage

"Whether it is an old fable or a personal story, Kevin tells with rich description of his characters and I feel as if I know them personally."

-- Donna Wilson, Festival Producer   

At an early age, Kevin was first introduced to the art of storytelling as he listened to his mother and father recount stories of their childhood in West Virginia. These Appalachian tales became the foundation for Kevin’s love of story. So inspired by storytelling, all throughout his childhood, Kevin often performed his latest magic show or his newest stories for his parents and five brothers and sisters. Stories are Kevin’s passion.

"As the sun set on our outdoor pavilion and the light of the lanterns took over producing the mood, Kevin began to weave a series of intricate and enticing tales. Once soft, once bold, often humorous and always very much there."

-- Gary Adest, Producer, River Ridge Ranch   

Kevin’s character-voice and dynamic performances have been captivating listeners, young and old as he often seeks stories that reflect teaching and healing principles. His tales are highly inviting stories, whether he tells stories from his Appalachian family or shares his experience as a teacher of migrant students or his work collaborating with a Navajo Code Talker.

Kevin’s work is versatile. As quick as he conveys a personal tale, he can dive into the world of fantasy where polar bears dance and pigs run for President. Regardless of the age or size of the audience, his tales invite you to listen. He can enchant adults with tales that revisit Mythology’s Pandora or invite children to search for his hidden friend Beppo who dances within his stories. Kevin’s performances are spell binding and always changing. He proudly boasts no show is the same. He is continually tailoring his shows to suit the audience’s needs.

"The Pied Piper has nothing on Kevin! He was the perfect storyteller to add to this year’s line-up!"

-- Rebecca Cohen, Stories of the Sea Festival Producer, Newport, Oregon   

Recent Festivals

National Storytelling Festival: Emcee and Presenter, Jonesboro, Tennessee
Four Corners Storytelling Festival, Farmington, New Mexico
Ojai Storytelling Festival, Featured Teller, Ojai, California
Southern Ohio Storytelling Festival, Featured Teller, Chillicothe, Ohio
Three Rivers Storytelling Festival, Featured Teller, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
Keepers of the Flame Storytelling Retreat, Featured Teller and Workshop Presenter, Chautauqua, New York
Utah Story Fest, Key Note Speaker, Performer, and Teller, Salt Lake City, Utah
National Storytelling Conference, Keynote Speaker, Bellingham, Washington

In the Classroom

As a new teacher, Kevin discovered that stories could grab and maintain a student’s attention in the classroom. From then on, he has not only been studying story, but using it in the classroom as an effective means of teaching. For eleven years, Kevin was most at home in the classroom where he was named, “the first full time high school storytelling teacher in the country.” Each day he planned five to six separate storytelling lessons for his students working with students of ranges and abilities from special needs, to “at-risk” to honors. Clearly, he has created and implemented story curriculum for all needs.

Beyond the classroom, Kevin has also taught Storytelling at the college level at both California State University (nine years) and most recently at The Ohio State University. He is a current, certified teacher who knows how to appeal to other educators and work skillfully with children. Kevin has continued his own education as well. His master’s degree focused on using story as a primary teaching tool. Currently, he is a Ph.D. student at The Ohio State University both teaching and studying how narrative can be used to teach many disciplines through story drama.

In 2001, Kevin was designated as a Fulbright Scholar. He was able to tell stories and conduct workshops Internationally in both England and Japan developing cross-cultural curriculum, especially story based work. While in Japan, he was honored when he was selected to address the subject of cross-cultural learning for The Vice Minister of Education of Japan ad his party which included the minister, delegates, teachers, and members of the Diet, (equal to the US Senate) mayors, and many more.

Kevin cares deeply about the connection between story and teaching starting the Y.E.S. (then Youth Storytelling) Special Interest Group for the National Storytelling Network. He is also the Co-founder of the Youth Tellabration! Movement sweeping the nation. His work is currently found at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ website where he served as educational story consultant for their ARTSEDGE program. He has served as the Executive Director for the National Youth Storytelling Showcase and is the founder of the Voices across America Youth Storytelling Project.

As a teacher that uses stories to motivate, guide, and persuade adults and youth to find their voice with story, Kevin has authored an award-winning book called Raising Voices: Youth Storytelling Groups and Troupes, co-authored with Judy Sima. The book, which has earned both the Storytelling World Award and the Anne Izard Storytellers Choice Award, chronicles his successful storytelling troupe of 11 years---Voices of Illusion providing practical and proven advice to help children learn through story.

Kevin’s story work is readily available to schools, homes, and libraries all over the country and world. His DVDs and CDs have merited rave reviews and awards which include: The Film Advisory Board of Excellence and The Storytelling World Award. His work in education has earned him the distinguished National Service Award from the National Storytelling Network. He has presented and worked for:

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington D. C.
National Council Teachers of English, Nashville, Tennessee
National Council of Elementary and Secondary Teachers, California, Palm Springs, California
Yosemite National Park
Pioneer Playhouse Elder house and Summer Stock Program, Danville, Kentucky
Schools in Sheffield, England
Schools at in Japan (Seki Prefecture)
Check it Out Library Program for the Entire State of California
Children’s Aids Clinic in Washington D. C.
Kettleman City Program Center for Pregnant Teens, Kettleman City, California
Sharing the Fire, MIT, Boston, Massachusetts

In the Community

Kevin believes, “communities are only as strong as the stories they tell.” He also believes that a sense of place can be developed when someone writes his or her own story. To further this idea, Kevin has worked in elder hostels helping individuals reveal their stories as well as with World War II Veterans launching a nation-wide campaign entitled “Telling America’s Story: Untold Stories of Heroes and Heroines” for “Celebrate Freedom” in Pigeon Force, Tennessee.

As a peace advocate, Kevin uses stories to help teach the principles of non-violence. He combines his work as a mediator to help children and adults alike to see the value of sharing their stories creating programs entitled, “Non-violent Means Told by Teens” and “Peace Talk: The Other Side of the Story.” As more and more people understand that non-violence is a choice, Kevin believes there would be less violence in the world. In his program, “Stories for a Better World,” he helps people envision a place for peaceful living.

Kevin believes in the combination of written and oral stories. He currently serves as the Co-Director of the Columbus Writing Project working with teachers in develop their own writing and curriculum writing plans to help students flourish as creative and competent writers. He is a published author who has written for such publications as: English Journal, The National Writing Voice, and Storytelling Magazine.

The Kevin Cordi Crusade

"When the electronic wizards took over the world they forgot to zap one lone knight. Kevin Cordi tilting at push-button entertainment and the simplest of weapons—his brain and tongue, Kevin Cordi is raising an army to rekindle interest in human’s oldest communication skill, storytelling.”

-- Guy Keeler, Fresno Bee   

"Cordi has made it his crusade to teach the value of a storytelling legacy."

-- Quoted by the National Storytelling Network, 2004

Indeed, Kevin Cordi is on a crusade to help others value a good story. On stage, in schools, and in the communities of the world, Kevin brings a sense of place to story. He knows story is the key to unlock personal history and one’s own story. As one of his students, Deonna Young reminds us,

“As a teller Kevin Cordi takes you to places you never think of and that is a great gift to have. As a teacher he has a deep impact on you that you might not see at the time but it will hit you later. Take it from me, this is the impact you want.”

-- (Hanford, California, August 2006)

Kevin would like to help you discover more about the power of story. He looks forward to working with you and soon. To find out more about his performances, programs, and workshops, please explore www.kevincordi.com.