AUBURN - Storyteller Jay Stetzer has traveled the world in search of tales to tell.

"I learned this story when I was traveling through India." began Stetzer. "There was this old Indian gentleman who said, 'I have a story for you.' "

So began a tale of an old woman who walked to see the raj in his palace to complain about a thief stealing her rice, at the Schweinfurth's "Make Worlds From Words" program on Sunday.

For Stetzer, stories are constant companions.

"I walk around with a library of stories in my head," he said.

Stetzer grew up with stories at home in Pittsburgh, where he was the middle child of 10, excelling in jazz piano.

"I found the classics at 16; that is what brought me to Rochester to the Eastman School of Music and I've been there ever since," he said. With bachelor and master degrees from the school, he has performed more than 200 times with the Rochester Philharmonic and has appeared with the San Francisco, Philadelphia, Houston and other symphony orchestras around the country. He also writes music, putting stories to music and music to stories and appears regularly on radio in Rochester. He has also worked with art galleries.

"I take a painting, weave a story. That tweaks my imagination," he said.

For Stetzer spontaneity is the challenge, "whatever bubbles up. I love what I'm doing; it has left me young, healthy, vibrant."

Stetzer taught the youngsters the alphabet in sign language, ending with clapping by raising both hands and fluttering them. He said he often tells stories to hearing impaired by signing, demonstrating his skill with "Dinner for a Duck."

It left the children squealing with glee.

"That was my favorite story," said Elias Grimm, 4, of Seneca Falls, who was there with his parents, Annette and David, and brother, Sebastian, 6, and sister, Ayden, 2.

Also enjoying the stories were Lynn Duffy and her grandson Brendan Shanahan, 5, of Marcellus.

While telling a story, Stetzer's arms fold, extend, rise and reach out.

His hands point and jab.

His voice quiets to a whisper then rises to a shout.

His story, "What Everybody Wants to Know," told of a good man who met an angel, inviting him in, saying: 'You must be tired from all that flying. What can I do for you?'

The angel answered, 'I'm supposed to do something for you.'

The good man said 'I'd like to see both heaven and hell'.

'All right,' said the angel. And with that he took the good man under his wing, showing him first hell.

'Take me away,' the man said.

And with that the angel took him upward to haven, where the good man stood amazed.

Stetzer ended the afternoon performance with "Zeke Went Fishing," a tale of suspense as Zeke meets a game warden.

For Nick Alberici, 5, and his father, Jeff, of Auburn, the afternoon with Stetzer brought smiles and laughs, with Nick learning to make different forms with his hands.

It was a tossup who enjoyed it more - father or son.