Sense of Place in Song and Story
Vivacious, charismatic, and energetic, Lynn Noel knows the story behind the song and makes you a part of it. Her clear, powerful voice is equally at home in rhythmic sea chanteys and lyrical ballads, and her repertoire extends to over fifteen languages. Lynn accompanies herself on treble, baritone, and bass dulcimer, shruti box, bodhran, and spoons, but her favorite instrument is the audience. She has a winning stage presence, an encyclopedic knowledge of her material, a huge sense of fun, and a joy in singing that shines through every song.
Local Hero, Regional Organizer, International Touring Artist
Lynn’s own arts work through Crosscurrents Music grounds her in her native New England, where she was honored by the Country Dance and Song Society as a CDSS Local Hero as an events catalyst and valued mentor. A midlife career as a touring artist has given her a national and international network that she puts to good use as Board member and Program Chair of the revered New England Folk Festival (NEFFA), which just celebrated its 80th anniversary (and Lynn’s 50th as a participant and performer).
From Academic to Independent Scholar
Lynn is an independent scholar and professional heritage interpreter with deep background in maritime history and women’s exploration of North America. Her academic career includes honors in geography and women’s studies at Dartmouth College, a Master of Science in human-environment geography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a research fellowship at Dartmouth’s Institute of Arctic Studies, and adjunct faculty at Keene State-UNH.
Lynn’s book VOYAGES: Canada’s Heritage Rivers was named Conservation Publication of the Year by the Natural Resources Council of America. Her first album, Crosscurrents, now reissued as Gulf of Saint Lawrence, received the Tree of Learning Award for excellence in environmental education from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Her outreach and public education work with the Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS) resulted in the inaugural CHRS leadership award, presented at the first CHRS conference for which she served as program co-chair.
Women and The Sea & the Seasonal Round
Lynn structures her work into three thematic program series: women’s history, maritime heritage, and calendar customs. Her depth of research, innovative visual and digital storytelling, and compelling stage presence have put her on the stage at national festivals, scholarly symposia, and international conferences. Her award-winning women’s history series A Woman’s Way features Vikings, voyageurs, pirates, and other traditional women’s roles. Her 2024 work focuses on the centennial of the first collection of American sea chanteys, published by sailor and social worker Joanna Carver Colcord in 1924. Visit Crosscurrents Music to learn more.