Harlan County High School Sophomore Noah Hughes has been named one of the top 10 youth storytellers in the nation. Hughes recently participated in the National Youth Storytelling Showcase as part of the Timpanogos Midwinter Storytelling Conference on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

While in Utah, Hughes performed at local elementary schools in Provo and Lehigh and at a public forum at the Provo Beach Resort. He was also a featured teller during the Youth Showcase Concert at the conference, where he performed “The Preacher and the Snowstorm,” made popular by local storyteller Pam Holcomb. Hughes was one of three youth storytellers from Kentucky to be honored during the event.

During the conference Hughes attended sessions and networked with professional storytellers, learning different methods in the creation and performance of different types of stories.

Hughes began his storytelling journey as a sixth-grader competing at the Kingdom Come Swappin’ Meetin’ at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College. He has won several awards in that competition as well as at the regional and state level. He is active in drama at HCHS and has helped promote the art of storytelling there, under the direction of Pam Hoskins. Hughes is also a 2012 Kentucky State Torchbearer, along with fellow HCHS classmate Michaela Simpson, and will perform at this year’s Kentucky State Fair.

Hughes will now serve as a National Torchbearer and will be an ambassador for youth storytelling at schools and festivals in our region. He is the son of Carlton and Kathy Hughes of Cumberland.

To book Noah for an event or to find out more about local storytelling competitions, contact Carlton Hughes at 606/589-3150.

For more information about national youth storytelling, visit www.nationalyouthstorytellingshowcase.org.