Hollyhock Presenters

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Our presenters are curated for their quality, depth, integrity, and alignment with our educational purpose. Since 1982, a distinguished faculty of authors, educators, activists, artists, performers, and practitioners have shared their work at our Cortes Island campus and in Vancouver.

People smiling at Activate 2023 Hollyhock Leadership Institute

Samantha Parton

Samantha Parton is a Vancouver native, best known as a founding member of acclaimed Canadian folk group The Be Good Tanyas. A singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, Parton formed the group in the late 1990s with Jolie Holland, Trish Klein, and Frazey Ford. Her songs have appeared in shows such as “The L Word,” “Weeds,” “Nashville,” and “Breaking Bad,” and her song “The Littlest Birds” is beloved as a folk anthem in Canada and beyond. In 2017, Parton reunited with former bandmate Jolie Holland and released Wildflower Blues, an album which wove together influences spanning jazz, folk, blues, and early 1970’s country. Previous songwriting retreats Sam has taught at include Arvon in the UK, and Calgary Folk Festival’s “Songwriting Boot Camp.” She is currently working on a solo album.