Join Minnesota State Arts Grant recipient Alison Young for an immersive evening of sound and storytelling at Tettegouche State Park. Hear her new audio narratives, crafted from field recordings and personal essays, during her residency in four Minnesota State Parks and get a behind-the-scenes look at how she captures the voice of the natural world.
Free and open to the public.
TETTEGOUCHE STATE PARK, MN — Minnesota State Arts Grant recipient Alison Young will offer an evening of immersive audio storytelling on January 24 at 7:00 p.m. at Tettegouche State Park. The event will feature a presentation of her newly completed audio narratives, along with insights into her creative process and the adventures that shaped her work.
Young’s project invites audiences to consider the sensory richness of the natural world: What does late winter snow sound like underfoot? How does solitude feel when the only company is a loon’s mournful call? Can you sense the smooth curve of Sioux quartzite or the spray of a waterfall simply through sound?
An experienced audio storyteller and former MPR host, Young blends personal essay with vivid field recordings to create “essaysin-sound,” audio pieces that evoke scenes with the immediacy of a picture book read aloud. As part of her 2025 Minnesota State Arts Grant, she immersed herself in four Minnesota State Parks coinciding with the four seasons, allowing the voices of the landscape to guide and inspire her compositions.
Attendees will hear the final works, learn how they were crafted, discover what Young listens for in the field, and enjoy stories and images from her time exploring the parks.
About Alison Young
With over 14,000 miles of backpacking across six continents and a background as an award-winning professional musician and syndicated American Public Media host, Alison Young approaches storytelling through a deeply attuned ear. Her audio narratives reach a wide audience through the award-winning Blissful Hiker™ podcast, which has surpassed 125,000 downloads. In 2025, she was honored with a Minnesota State Arts Creative Individual Grant.
