Author: Jay Stetzer
Born: July 21, 1947
Bio: Jay Stetzer is a musician, dancer, mime, visual artist, and professional storyteller. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1947 and educated at the Eastman School of Music, where he was awarded a B.M. and an M.A. in Music. He received dance training at Alfred University, the Bucket Dance Theater, and the Martha Graham School in New York City. He studied mime at the Mime Workshop in Rochester, New York.

Since 1971, Jay has been working at the Harley School in Brighton, NY, where he has established an acclaimed performing arts program for elementary students. He has received three grants from the New York State Department of Education to promote dance, creative movement, and theater in schools throughout New York State. He has also appeared as a guest lecturer at the first Annual International Conference on Dance and the Child at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada.

As a storyteller, Jay has given countless performances and residencies at schools, colleges, conferences, libraries, fairs, and festivals throughout the Eastern U.S. and Southern Canada, and has appeared frequently on radio and television. He has been a performing member of Young Audiences of Rochester since 1983 and has served for two years as a member of its board. In 1988 he was elected as a finalist by the National Young Audiences for its "Artist of the Year" award. He has worked with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and other orchestras around the United States, designing family concerts as well as performing in educational concerts through a variety of storytelling roles with orchestral accompaniment. 

This Fall Jay was honored with the “Artist of the Year” award by the Arts and Cultural Council of Greater Rochester.

Jay integrates his vast experience in theater and music to bring each story to life in a unique way. Audiences old and young have delighted In his lively presentations.

Jay was producer, writer, and host/storyteller for the successful Flower City Hour, a monthly PBS-Rochester program. 

Currently he appears twice weekly in Rochester N.Y. on his popular radio program "Tales in Two Minutes", where he has been performing since 1989 The show airs on WXXI-FM (91.5). His program can also be heard three times daily on the popular Rochester jazz station, WJZR-FM (105.9).

In 1992, Jay teamed-up with musician John Teleska in the production of his recording, "Fables in Four Minutes", which won a Parent's Choice Approval Award. He has since "authored" two remarkable recordings: "World Full of Stories" (a collection of folk tales arranged in a world tour and a Parent’s Choice Silver Award Winner) and "Parking in Manhattan" (urban folktales performed in a contemporary style).

Jay makes his home in Rochester, New York with his beloved wife, Maura. He is the father of five grown children and the grandfather of four, all of whom adore hearing stories told around the fire.