"A master of audience inclusion. Will Hornyak is a world class storyteller. I can't recommend him highly enough." Joe Lapidus, former Principal Chinook Elementary (Vancouver WA)
Artist Biography
From Irish legends and Russian fairytales to bilingual Mexican fables, Oregon tall tales and beyond, master storyteller Will Hornyak weaves a wide web of oral traditions into lively, well-crafted, participatory performances. His award-winning program “Living Streams: Stories for Healthy Watersheds” brings facts to life about local streams, salmon, water, wetlands and sustainable living on our beloved planet earth. He is experienced in performing and teaching to a wide range of audiences from kindergarten through university level.
“Storyteller par excellence...transports audiences young and old into an amazing world of imagination.” The Oregonian newspaper
Will has performed at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, Tennessee and at regional festivals throughout the United States. He has taught classes in storytelling and mythology at Portland State Univ., Marylhurst Univ. and Lewis and Clark College. He offers programs for non-profit and corporate organizations in finding and telling the stories that reflect their deepest values and highest vision. An advocate for storytelling as a change-agent in personal and collective life, he works with the Portland based non-profit “Open Hearts, Open Minds” to bringing dialogue, storytelling, theatre and poetry into Oregon prisons. A Young Audiences roster artist for over 20 years Will is dedicated and delighted to share his passion and skills with the next generation of storytellers.
“Storyteller par excellence...transports audiences young and old into an amazing world of imagination.” The Oregonian newspaper
Will has performed at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, Tennessee and at regional festivals throughout the United States. He has taught classes in storytelling and mythology at Portland State Univ., Marylhurst Univ. and Lewis and Clark College. He offers programs for non-profit and corporate organizations in finding and telling the stories that reflect their deepest values and highest vision. An advocate for storytelling as a change-agent in personal and collective life, he works with the Portland based non-profit “Open Hearts, Open Minds” to bringing dialogue, storytelling, theatre and poetry into Oregon prisons. A Young Audiences roster artist for over 20 years Will is dedicated and delighted to share his passion and skills with the next generation of storytellers.
Teaching Philosophy
Will believes that every student has a unique voice and style of expression. His work is to help students discover and refine their gifts of speaking, gesture, movement and facial expression to bring stories to life. He believes that there are many ways to succeed in telling a story: some students are gregarious and outgoing, some are quiet and soft-spoken. Often the most reserved of students will display a surprising confidence and joy in bringing a character to life.
Stories in themselves can delight, entertain, educate and inspire. He use this magnetic attraction that we all have to stories to interest students in the craft of storytelling. We learn storytelling skills by observation and participation. Will brings student volunteers directly into the storytelling experience and assist them in embodying characters. We consider the tools of voice dynamics, the pacing and rhythm of a story, the affects of gestures and facial expressions and the audience/performer dynamics. All is done in an atmosphere of mutual respect, fun and discovery. Will is endlessly inspired by the creativity of students as they engage in storytelling. They are his best teachers in the end, and he continually learns from them how to facilitate and nourish their talents and gifts.
Stories in themselves can delight, entertain, educate and inspire. He use this magnetic attraction that we all have to stories to interest students in the craft of storytelling. We learn storytelling skills by observation and participation. Will brings student volunteers directly into the storytelling experience and assist them in embodying characters. We consider the tools of voice dynamics, the pacing and rhythm of a story, the affects of gestures and facial expressions and the audience/performer dynamics. All is done in an atmosphere of mutual respect, fun and discovery. Will is endlessly inspired by the creativity of students as they engage in storytelling. They are his best teachers in the end, and he continually learns from them how to facilitate and nourish their talents and gifts.
