FARM Lantern Bearer Award

An acclaimed singer, songwriter, musician, author, and educator, Kitty Donohoe has spent the past 50 years making her unique and indelible mark on the folk music scene well beyond her home state of Michigan and impacting the lives of so many as a gifted singer/songwriter and performer. 

Kitty is not an Irish or Celtic singer, but she clearly draws from that part of her heritage, as well as her American roots, as an artist.  Growing up in a large, creative family outside of Detroit, Kitty started ‘making up songs’ and playing the piano at a young age, then graduated to the guitar in high school, when she began going to coffeehouses and open mic nights, bringing the guitar and her own songs. When she became involved in Irish music, Kitty bought a cittern, and she still primarily plays guitar, cittern and piano.  Although some of her originals may sound like they were written 100 years ago and others are clearly contemporary, Kitty’s striking voice carries it all, delivering each song with power and emotion. 

Kitty writes music that has been called “earthy, luminous and compelling” (The Weekender) and she’s been praised in the press equally for her voice and musicality.  Her songwriting has been acknowledged by Great American Song Contest.  On September 11, 2001, Kitty wrote “There Are No Words,” which won a Michigan Emmy award.  It was also featured in a 9/11 documentary, which led to her singing it live at the dedication of the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial in 2008 – an experience that she calls “profound.”

In the late 1980s, Kitty wrote several songs inspired by Michigan and the Great Lakes and developed music programs she presented in schools and libraries around the state.  They proved popular and kept her in demand, and many of the songs she wrote for these programs are still used extensively by teachers in elementary curriculums throughout the state. 

Kitty has released two books to date — “Henny and Benny Bunyan and the Maple Syrup Adventure” and “Bunyan & Banjoes Michigan Songs & Stories.”  Both books come with music CDs.

Kitty is also a regular artist-in-residence for the Lost Voices program, working with at-risk youth in various facilities throughout lower Michigan. And she is the 2024 recipient of the Michigan Heritage Award, which honors individuals who continue their family and community folk traditions with excellence through practice and teaching, or individuals who are recognized as outstanding community leaders in the maintenance, documentation, or presentation of traditional arts.

Kitty is a Michigan treasure whose music has touched the lives of thousands. All Music Guide said “Kitty Donohoe is a true treasure – a rare songwriter with tremendous range, a beautiful voice and an ability to write haunting, melodic and literate songs. She deserves a wider audience.”

Randy Styka is a longtime folk music enthusiast and supporter.  He is a previous FARM board member for multiple terms and a regular volunteer at both the FARM and Folk Alliance International annual conferences.  His FARM involvement goes back more than 20 years.  Several organizations and programs have benefited from Randy’s tireless assistance, technical expertise, endless energy, patience in problem solving, and perpetual good humor. There’s seldom an event, concert series, or festival where you don’t see Randy present as a volunteer or audience member.

Randy makes a huge contribution to the genre and to the corps of performing and touring folk musicians by presenting Acoustic Renaissance Concerts in Hinsdale, IL, a role he took on to prevent the series from ending when the previous stewards moved on.  Not only does he book and host several sought after and top quality performances throughout the year, he also creates a strong soundscape and video feed for remote access to each performance, expanding the reach of every show.

During the pandemic, Randy offered up not only the Acoustic Renaissance Concerts space, but also the technical support to sustain WFMT’s Folkstage.  He helped the church upgrade their internet connection to enable Folkstage to broadcast live shows from Hinsdale when WFMT was not allowing non-employees in the radio station.  These efforts ensured one of the nation’s premier live folk shows not only continued to broadcast, but continued to create new, original, live programming – giving artists a way to play live when venues were shuttered.

In addition to running his own concert series, Randy has a more than 20-year history as a frequent volunteer at Two Way Street Coffeehouse in Downers Grove, IL.  Today he is often found operating their live stream equipment during shows.

Randy is also a lead volunteer at over 100 concerts and events at the Old Town School of Folk Music each year, setting a tremendous example for hundreds of volunteers throughout with his cheerfulness, his willingness to take on any task to ensure an event’s success, and his immersion in his love of great music.  Among his many duties at OTSFM, Randy often serves as a gracious emcee for the concerts, always finding a way to promote other folk-related activities from the stage and always maintaining a spirit of inclusiveness.

He has also contributed significantly to several festivals across the Midwest through the years, including the Fox Valley Folk Festival.

Randy, with the unwavering support of his wife Debbie who often participates with him, is the quiet volunteer who makes everything look good.  He handles both small problems and big crises with patience, intelligence, and calmness, and he meets every problem and challenge with optimism.  Amid his myriad contributions to the folk community, he finds time to run a 30+ year computer business, installing networking systems, wi-fi and streaming services to individuals, schools and churches.  His generosity, organizational ability, friendly and supportive demeanor, and endless enthusiasm contribute invaluably to FARM and beyond.

FARM has standardized nomination and selection procedures for this award which serves to honor the recipient and increase awareness of and strengthen ties within and beyond the Midwest folk music and dance communities.

Nominations are accepted from any member of FARM, with the finalist(s) selected by the FARM Board of Directors.

A nominee must:

• Maintain a high level of achievement over a number of years
• Demonstrate continued excellence in their field of expertise
• Be engaged with the wider FARM community

A nominator must:

• Fill out the nomination form which includes identifying and contact information for both nominator and nominee.
• Explain in two or three paragraphs why the nominee is deserving of the Award (included in the form, or you may attach a separate letter).
• List the major achievements of the nominee (included in the form, or you may include it in your attached letter).
• Ask at least two other people to write letters of reference, in addition to your nominating statement. Include their names and contact information on your nomination form. You may attach letters of support from the references or ask the references to send their support letters directly to info@farmfolk.org.

All completed nominations will move on to the final round for the 2023 Lantern Bearer Award, after which the Board will select up to four nominees. Award winners will be announced after September 13.

Award Call for Entries is now open and will remain open until September 5, 2023.