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.
With support from:
Musician: Jeanne Norton, The Sustaining Board Chair
Featured Instrument: Harp
Columbus Dance Theatre Dancers: Leah Hiller and Brennan Johnson
Dance: “March Timpani” by Tom Higgins, choreographed by Jaime Wilson
Guest Librarian: Ellie Perry from the Columbus Metropolitan Library
Book: “Klondike, Do Not Eat Those Cupcakes” written and illustrated by Amanda Driscoll
Music: “Levee Dance” by Florence Price
Musician: John Pellegrino, The John F. Brownley Chair
Featured Instrument: Double Bass
Columbus Dance Theatre Dancers: Seth Wilson and Luke Ciminillo Delamotte
Dance: “Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 80” by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, choreographed by Jaime Wilson
Guest Librarian: Julie Scordato from Bexley Public Library
Book: “When You Are Brave” written by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Eliza Wheeler
Music: “3 Pieces for Violin and Piano” by Amy Beach
Musician: Marc Moskovitz, The Barbara Trueman Chair
Featured Instrument: Cello
Columbus Dance Theatre Dancers: Alex Napoli and Brennan Johnson
Dance: “Le Beau Romanze” by Luise Adolpha, choreographed by Jaime Wilson
Guest Librarian: Kelly Edwards from Upper Arlington Public Library
Book: “I Love You More Than…” written by Taye Diggs, illustrated by Shane W. Evans
Music: “Nonet, Op. 38” by Louise Farrenc
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
