THE STORY SESSIONS
Virtual creative writing workshop focused on story telling, song writing, and empowering our own individual voice.
October 5th - 9th
Monday - Friday 6pm EST
What are the Story Sessions about?
The process of creative writing has been the foundation for our band’s growth and development. A Girl Named Genny believes in writing and story telling as ways to express ourselves, but also as a vehicle for healing, connection, and change. With our show schedule dramatically reduced, and more time at home during these quarantine days, we have found ourselves writing more. Zac, myself, and our good friend Shani, want to capitalize on this free time we have, and offer a virtual platform where writers and creators of all kinds and levels can come together to share their work. This workshop will be facilitated by us, but will ultimately be more successful as we learn and create with one another. We will tackle free form, dialogue, song writing, spoken word, and more. We will spend the week together diving into stories that encompass who we are, our struggles and our successes.
It is more important now than ever to gather and share our story. We hope you join us. - Ray
Who will facilitate the Story Sessions?
Ray performing with A Girl Named Genny at the Westcott Theater.
Ray Mahar - (he/him) is the lead singer and song writer for A Girl Named Genny, a Rochester, NY based folk band. Ray has written three albums for the group, with the third record “Family” being released sometime in 2021. After graduating from the University of Dayton with a degree in Literature and Creative Writing, Ray moved back home to work in the non-profit world. Currently he works as the Community Engagement Director for Camp Stomping Ground, and continues to write and record music with artists in Rochester.
Shani performing one of her pieces in Philadelphia, PA.
Shani Carrington - (she/her) is a 24 year old, Black, first generation American, storyteller, poet, and teaching artist born and raised in Philadelphia. As a poet, she has been writing seriously for 11 years and performing at small open mics and poetry shows for 8 years. Influenced by a perspective shaped by Barbadian parents and an inner city upbringing, her work often revolves around the state of blackness across the diaspora, the complexities of love, and the way we as humans interact with one another. When not writing, she works in the behavioral health field with Philadelphia youth and enjoys spending time with friends, watching spoken word videos on YouTube, playing with her black cat Spring, and drinking tea.
Zac performing with the Honey Smugglers at the Sterling Folk Festival.
Zac Lijewski - (he/him) is the fiddle player in A Girl Named Genny. He also plays in several groups in Rochester NY such as The Honey Smugglers and Big Jazz Small Band. Zac has arranged string parts for over five full length albums, and is currently working on an independent piece reimagining music for the Zelda series. Zac went to school at Nazareth College before he co-founded UUU Art Collective, an art gallery in Rochester that initiates cultural conversations through artists and art spaces.
How do I register?
You can register by emailing - agirlnamedgenny@gmail.com - to secure your spot. Make your subject line “Story Sessions” and you will be sent the workshop info and confirmation receipt! All ages and experiences are welcome!
Does it cost any money?
The Story Sessions will be a workshop that is free and accessible to all. Any tips or donations can be made to our Venmo and/or Paypal. The first ever workshop will be giving the proceeds to Yoga 4 A Good Hood.
Venmo - @AGirlNamedGenny
Paypal - agirlnamedgenny@gmail.com
ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT OUR FRIENDS AT YOGA 4 A GOOD HOOD
EMAIL AGIRLNAMEDGENNY@GMAIL.COM TO REGISTER TODAY