|
Connecticut State Troubadour
The honorary position of Connecticut State Troubadour was established in 1991 by the General Assembly to encourage cultural literacy and promote the State of Connecticut. The Arts Division designates a resident songwriter to serve as state troubadour on a biannual basis.
The State Troubadour conducts public performances throughout the year. As a member of CCT's Directory of Performing Artists, he/she can be booked for concerts and school appearances through the Arts Presentation Grant Program.
The State Troubadour for 2009 and 2010 is Lara Herscovitch.
{Photo of Lara Herscovitch} Lara Herscovitch of north Guilford is a charismatic, award-winning singer-songwriter whose original music is a skillful blend of acoustic/folk, pop, jazz, blues and Latin styles. She has worked and traveled extensively and has a deep appreciation for and understanding of the importance of global issues and cultural diversity.
She has been called “captivating”
(Smother.net) and “a remarkable performer” (WSHU Profiles in Folk). Lara “masterfully” (Womenfolk.net) merges soulful melodies with “perfect wordcrafting” (New Haven Advocate) and “keen intelligence” (The Chronicle). She is engaging and “inspiring” (Manchester VT Journal), “fresh and invigorating” (Music Morsels).
Lara was trained as a policy social worker, and has worked in the US, Latin America and Asia, on behalf of disadvantaged individuals focusing on education, community development, human services, and juvenile justice. Echoes of this work, including personal and global themes and questions of equity and social justice resonate in her music.
Herscovitch is releasing her fourth solo CD in 2009, being produced by John Jennings (Mary Chapin Carpenter). Her third CD Juror Number 13, is “among the best folk releases of the year and possibly many years past” (Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange). She has performed in a wide variety of settings throughout the Northeast and U.S. including clubs, coffeehouses, music festivals, colleges and universities, libraries, hospitals, and senior centers, among others.
"Her voice and performance style had me captivated right away. She truly stands out in a crowd of rising folksingers" (Valley Folk, Elmira NY). Her songs cover a broad range of topics; “the more you listen, the more you will like what she does” (Green Man Review); it is “pure musical poetry” (The Courier).
Lara's website is www.LaraHerscovitch.com
Works by Lara Herscovitch
Past State Troubadour
2007-2008 Pierce Campbell
2005-2006 Thomasina Levy
2003-2004 Dennis Waring
2001-2002 Kevin Briody
1999-2000 Hugh Blumenfield
1998 Jeff and Synia McQuillan
1997 Sally Rogers
1996 Mike Kachuba
1995 Bill Pere
1994 Phil Rosenthal
1993 Sandy and Caroline Paton
1991-1992 Tom Callinan
Applications for the next State Troubadour will be in the fall of 2010.
State Troubadour Selection Process
Forms below are for Information Purposes ONLY
Connecticut State Troubadour Guidelines (2008)
Connecticut State Troubadour Application (2008)
|
