Voice | Elizabeth Laprelle | All Levels | Period 1 | Week 4 (July 27-31, 2026)
We’ll dig into several of these ancient storytelling songs, mostly from Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky. The songs often come with stories about the old singers, and we will stop along the way to listen to source recordings and talk about context, technique, and style. Lyrics provided, melodies taught by ear.
About the Instructor
Elizabeth LaPrelle has been performing Appalachian ballads and old-time songs since she was eleven. Her magnificent voice, her respect for the songs, and her authentic mountain sound and style brought her to the attention of first Ginny Hawker and then Sheila Kay Adams. Raised in Rural Retreat, Virginia, Elizabeth attended old time fiddlers’ conventions and sang harmonies with her family, who taught her traditional singing styles and encouraged her to sing their own favorite American folk music. She received her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary with a major in Southern Appalachian Traditional Performance, and now tours the US regularly both performing and teaching.