Musical Storytimes is a free program tailored for preschool-aged children. Each Storytime is co-hosted by our musicians, and features a unique theme uniting story and song. Music, stories, books, and interactive activities offer a fun and engaging learning experience. Enjoy all of our online Virtual Musical Storytimes below, as well as on our Facebook page and Youtube channel. New videos will be uploaded continually throughout the year.
With support from:
Musician: Koko Watanabe, The Elizabeth Williams Chair
Featured Instrument: Violin
Columbus Dance Theatre Dancers: Luke Ciminillo Delamotte and Erica Alloway
Dance: “Violin Sonata, Op. 7” by Ethel Smyth, choreographed by Jaime Wilson
Guest Librarian: Hillary Scholz from Delaware County District Library
Book: “Grumpy Pants” written and illustrated by Claire Messer
Music: “Violin Sonata, Op. 7” by Ethel Smyth
Musician: Jeanne Norton, The Sustaining Board Chair
Featured Instrument: Harp
Columbus Dance Theatre Dancers: Brennan Johnson and Leah Hiller
Dance: “Mélancolie” by Cécile Chaminade, choreographed by Jaime Wilson
Guest Librarian: Ellie Perry from Columbus Metropolitan Library
Book: “A Normal Pig” written and illustrated by K-Fai Steele
Music: “Legende” by Henriette Renie
Musician: John Pellegrino, The John F. Brownley Chair
Featured Instrument: Double Bass
Columbus Dance Theatre Dancers: Luke Ciminillo Delamotte, Erica Alloway, and Seth WIlson
Dance: “The Goblin and The Mosquito” by Florence Price, choreographed by Jaime Wilson
Guest Librarian: Julie Scordato from Bexley Public Library
Book: “Ruby Finds a Worry” written and illustrated by Tom Percival
Music: “3 Pieces for Cello and Piano” by Nadia Boulanger
Musician: Marc Moskovitz, The Barbara Trueman Chair
Featured Instrument: Cello
Columbus Dance Theatre Dancers: Brennan Johnson & Alex Napoli
Dance: “Mazurca Melancolica” by Ricardo Castro, choreographed by Jamie Wilson
Guest Librarian: Kelly Edwards from Upper Arlington Public Library
Book: “Crying is Like the Rain” written by Heather Hawk Feinberg, illustrated by Chamisa Kellogg
Music: “The Place Where the Rainbow Ends” from the Magnolia Suite for Piano by R. Nathaniel Dett
Musician: Koko Watanabe, The Elizabeth Williams Chair
Featured Instrument: Violin
Columbus Dance Theatre Dancers: Erica Alloway & Luke Ciminillo Delamotte
Dance: “Diary of a Young Child: The Dolls Have A Party” by Ernesto Lecuona, choreographed by Jaime Wilson
Guest Librarian: Hillary Scholz from Delaware Public Library
Book: “My Heart Fills With Happiness” written by Monique Gray Smith, illustrated by Julie Flett
Music: “Cotillions, First Set” by Francis Johnson
Musician: Victoria Moreira, The Dyann & E. Joel Wesp Chair
Featured Instrument: Violin
Special Guest: Barbara Fant, performer, poet, and author.
Sing-Along Song: Are You Sleeping
Book: “The Ribbon in the Sky” by Vada Azeem
Music by: Lili Boulanger
Musician: Victoria Moreira, The Dyann & E. Joel Wesp Chair
Featured Instrument: Violin
Special Guest: Barbara Fant, performer, poet, and author.
Sing-Along Song: The Color Song
Book: “Dream a Rainbow” by Carlotta Penn
Music by: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
This video is in partnership with the King Arts Complex’s The Heart of Protest, sponsored by First Community Bank.
Musician: Rachael Young, The Carolyn Merry & Bob Redfield Chair
Featured Instrument: Bassoon
Special Guest: Oyauma Garrison, CEO of A Kid Again
Sing-Along Song: Five Little Ducks
Book: “Dudley Magnificent Presents: A Little Book of Joy” by Michelle E. Farley
Music by: Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges
This video is in partnership with the King Arts Complex’s The Heart of Protest.
Musician: Rachael Young, The Carolyn Merry & Bob Redfield Chair
Featured Instrument: Bassoon
Special Guest: Oyauma Garrison, CEO of A Kid Again
Sing-Along Song: The Bear Went Over the Mountain
Book: “The Little Engine that Could” by Watty Piper
Music by: Amanda Maier
Musician: Amy Cave, The Randy & Marilyn Miller Chair
Featured Instrument: Violin
Special Guest: Jessica Burton, Development Manager at Orange Barrel Media and member of Opera Columbus’ Board of Trustees.
Sing-Along Song: Months of the Year
Book: “Hair Love” by Matthew Cherry
Music by: Ethyl Smith
This video is in partnership with the King Arts Complex’s The Heart of Protest.
Musician: Amy Cave, The Randy & Marilyn Miller Chair
Featured Instrument: Violin
Special Guest: Jessica Burton, Development Manager at Orange Barrel Media and member of Opera Columbus’ Board of Trustees.
Sing-Along Song: Five Little Monkeys
Book: “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak
Music by: Pauline Viardot
Musician: Cora Kuyvenhoven, The Bob & Mary Frances Restrepo Chair
Featured Instrument: Cello
Special Guest: LC Johnson, an award winning writer, entrepreneur, and activist with a passion for empowering women, especially women of color.
Sing-Along Song: Days of the Week
Book: “Ada Twist, Scientist” by Andrea Beaty
Music by: Amanda Maier
This video is in partnership with the King Arts Complex’s The Heart of Protest.
Musician: Cora Kuyvenhoven, The Bob & Mary Frances Restrepo Chair
Featured Instrument: Cello
Special Guest: LC Johnson, an award winning writer, entrepreneur, and activist with a passion for empowering women, especially women of color.
Sing-Along Song: The Ants Go Marching
Book: “The Little Blue Truck” by Alice Schertle
Music by: Francis Johnson
Musician: Aya Hamada, The ProMusica Board Chair in memory of Ida Copenhaver
Featured Instrument: Harpsichord
Letter of the Day: I i
Book: “What Do You Do With An Idea?” by Kobi Yamada
Musician: Stephen Goist, The Regie & David Powell Chair
Featured Instrument: Viola
Letter of the Day: M m
Book: “Are You Ready to Play Outside?” by Mo Willems
Musician: Jenny Magistrelli, The Robert T. Bennett Chair
Featured Instrument: Clarinet
Letter of the Day: W w
Book: “Not Quite Snow White” by Ashley Franklin
Musician: Patrick Bilanchone, The Kathryn D. Sullivan Chair
Featured Instrument: Double bass
Letter of the Day: D d
Book: “I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean” by Kevin Sherry
Musician: Renee Keller, The Michael & Jody Croley Jones Chair
Featured Instrument: Percussion
Letter of the Day: P p
Book: “The Monster at the End of This Book: Starring Lovable, Furry Old Grover” by Jon Stone
Musician: Music Director David Danzmayr & Creative Partner Vadim Gluzman
Featured Instrument: Violin
Book: “Ferdinand the Bull” by Munro Leaf
Musician: Stephanie Blaha, The Todd S. Swatsler Chair
Featured Instrument: French horn
Letter of the Day: H h
Book: “Hooray for Hat!” by Brian Won
Musician: Joel Becktell, The Donna K. Laidlaw Chair
Featured Instrument: Cello
Letter of the Day: C c
Book: “Leonardo the Terrible Monster” by Mo Willems
Musician: Ellen Connors, The Loann W. Crane Chair
Featured Instrument: Bassoon
Letter of the Day: B b
Book: “Snow White” by Chloe Perkins
Musician: Solomon Liang, The Laurie & Thomas W. Hill Chair
Featured Instrument: Violin
Letter of the Day: V v
Book: “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” by Mara Alperin
Musician: Jessica Smithorn, The Artie & Alisa Isaac Chair
Featured Instrument: Oboe
Letter of the Day: O o
Book: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle
