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Connecticut State Troubadour
The honorary position of Connecticut State Troubadour was established in 1991 by the General Assembly. The State Troubadour serves as an ambassador of music and song and promotes cultural literacy among Connecticut citizens.
The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism ("CCT") appoints a resident songwriter as state troubadour on a biannual basis.
Guidelines and applications for the next State Troubadour (2011 and 2012) will be available in mid-August 2010.
Overview of Selection Process
The State Troubadour for 2009 and 2010 is Lara Herscovitch.
{Photo of Lara Herscovitch} Lara Herscovitch of north Guilford is an award-winning, modern singer-songwriter, who masterfully blends modern acoustic/folk with pop, jazz, blues and Latin influences. 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 "above and beyond the pack" with a voice "clear and smooth like expensive liquor" (Northeast Performer).
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 recently released her fourth CD, "Through A Frozen Midnight Sky," produced by John Jennings (Mary Chapin Carpenter). She tours extensively throughout the U.S. eastern seaboard and beyond.
"Her voice and performance style had me captivated right away. She truly stands out in a crowd of rising folksingers" (Valley Folk, Elmira NY); "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
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