John Farrell is an internationally acclaimed songwriter, author, and peace educator.
For over 25 years he has been doing assembly programs, workshops and family concerts at schools, conferences, and community events. He has visited more than 1500 schools in 25 countries around the world.
John’s songs and stories focus on understanding, empathy, nature, literacy, and much more. John’s music video “The Great Earth Sing Along,” received a Parents Choice Award and a Dove Foundation Award. John was also the recipient of a “Freedom Through Literacy Award” from Judith’s Reading Room.
He is the author of three Boyds Mills Press picture books, including “Stargazer’s Alphabet,” an International Reading Association Notable Book of the Year. John has recorded eight CDs of songs and stories.
Before beginning his career as a performer, writer, and storyteller, John Farrell worked for Macmillan Publishing Company. He was the Executive Producer of “Songs and Stories,” a comprehensive audio program of more than 250 songs and stories correlated to the thematic units in the company’s literature based reading program. Since leaving Macmillan in 1992 John has written and recorded over 200 songs and stories to support curriculum instruction in Early Childhood Education, Language Arts, Science, Math, ESL, Social Studies, and Character Education. He has been a keynote speaker and featured presenter at major educational conferences and festivals in Europe, Africa, Asia, New Zealand and North America.
John’s wife, Ann Marie, is a retired elementary and preschool teacher. She is also a guitarist and singer. They do school programs and concerts together. The Farrells live in Hillsdale, NY and spend time each summer at a family farmhouse in Prince Edward Island, Canada. John and Ann Marie are the parents of five adult children and the proud grandparents of Ella and Owen Brady. John enjoys outdoor adventures. He is a former marathon runner who enjoys exciting challenges. John has bicycled 170 miles in one day and tries to ride 100 miles a week all summer. While on one of his visits to Africa, he jumped off the Bloukrans Bridge, the highest bungee jump in the world. In 2014 along with his daughter Maggie, nephew Michael, and friend Riley he climbed to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.
John joins PBS host, Becky Magura, to share his vision and message.