Meet Elsa Wolff | Singer/Storyteller and Living History Presenter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elsa Wolff and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elsa, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
In this culture of on-demand media and screen-time overload, I delight in offering IN-PERSON, REAL-TIME programs. As both a Singer/Storyteller and as a Living History Presenter, it is a privilege to carry out the century-old oral tradition. Many find a “live performance” simply more magical and engaging. When I show up to a school as “The Guitar Lady”, the children get so excited and are eager to pay attention and participate. Many teachers have said they are in awe at how the classroom goes from chaos to attentive energy when I walk in. I can see children being impacted by the stories and songs and inspired (hopefully) to pursue their own creativity!
With Living History Programs, people have the opportunity to step back into the past (figuratively) and meet persons of interest. The feedback I receive after a program is always so positive and glowing… “I felt as if they were right there talking to me!” People are able to hear about world view, perspective, overcoming challenges and personal victory — in other words, stepping into some one else’s shoes and seeing their story more clearly. It is an opportunity for education, information and, more importantly, compassion!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It is a rare and beautiful story when one’s success comes from doing what one loves. I love music. I love stories. I love children. I love making people smile and bringing encouragement. As a mother of 4 young children, I would volunteer in their classrooms, bringing my guitar and playing a couple songs or telling a short story. The kids called me “The Guitar Lady” and the teachers called on me frequently. At a time of financial need, I asked myself, “I wonder if I could charge a small fee for what I do…?” That question was the beginning of “Guitar Lady”. It was a long, slow road to “success” – success being, a full schedule with lots of opportunities to still bring smiles and encouragement. Right from the start, my tag-line for “Guitar Lady” has been, “Music lifts the heart; Stories spark the imagination”.
If there is one thing I lacked at the start, it was confidence. The way to overcome a lack of confidence is to gain experience. My confidence has built over years and years of performing for children of varying ages and learning how to adapt to each group, so that now, I can adjust to any age child, from infant to 6th grade.
Adding Living History to my pursuits was a matter of chance. I had won 1st place in a storytelling competition and the prize was one-on-one lessons with Susan Marie Frontczak, a wonderful storyteller and performer from Boulder. I had seen her perform as Eleanor Roosevelt and thought that I would love to learn how to tell someone’s life story in such a way as to educate and inspire. It took me 2 years to develop my first character, Amelia Earhart. My audience became adults and senior citizens. I saw how engaged they were in this form of “storytelling” and continued to pursue it as I developed additional characters (Minnie Pearl, Maria von Trapp and Annie Oakley).

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
What does my friend need? Time away from it all… a time to be still and take in nature? In that case, I would head for the mountains and find a quiet place by a stream or lake. Maybe Grand Lake? Or a small cabin near St. Mary’s glacier. We would hike, and sit in the splendor of the mountains. If they wanted to see and do, I would take them to Red Rocks Amphitheater – either to a concert or Yoga on the Rocks. We would go on a bike ride around Chatfield Reservoir or along the Highline Canal. We would go to City Park, the Museum of Nature and Science and then downtown to walk along 17th street mall and go to a brewery. At night, I’d take them to Old Town Littleton for walking & dining — if we could get reservations at Melting Pot, that would be great!
If my friends wanted to see more of Colorado, I’d take them to Boulder and Estes Park; then South to Colorado Springs and the Air Force Base. We’d visit Woodland Park and maybe go up Pikes Peak!
If my friends were just coming to see me, we’d sit, sing, go on long walks and cook amazing meals right in my own home. We’d watch the sun-set and maybe even get up for a sun-rise hike!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m grateful for schools in Jefferson County, Goddard Schools and others that have a value for music and the oral tradition. My career as singer/storyteller started at my own children’s school (Red Rocks Elementary) and, 20 years later, I am still providing programs for them, as well as many other schools in the County and greater Denver area. Funding for schools seems to grow smaller, but many schools have continued to include my program in their budget. 12 years ago I added Living History in the Chautauqua format. I was taught/trained by Susan Marie Frontczak of Boulder – the best in the country! I had seen her perform as Eleanor Roosevelt and thought, “I want to know how to do that!” She was a wonderful teacher and continues to be an inspiration to me!

Website: guitarlady.com

Instagram: guitar.lady

Linkedin: Elsa Wolff

Facebook: Elsa Wolff; Guitar Lady