Lara Herscovitch Named Connecticut’s State Troubadour

Lara Herscovitch, a talented contemporary singer-songwriter whose music features a nice blend of folk, pop and world styles, has been named as Connecticut’s State Troubadour for 2009 and 2010.

Appointed by the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, based on a recommendation by a panel of music professionals that included Pierce Campbell, the previous State Troubadour, Herscovitch serves as an ambassador of music and song to encourage cultural literacy and promote the State of Connecticut.

“I am honored and privileged to have been selected, and I look forward to serving as an ambassador for music and the state of Connecticut,” said Herscovitch. In addition to her regular touring schedule, she will perform at a number of state events in an emissary role over the next two years.

Herscovitch, who will be showcasing at the International Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis, Tennessee, next week, has been a finalist in a number of singer-songwriter competitions. These include Telluride Troubadour and Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival last year, Plowshares and Solarfest in 2007, and the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in 2006. She is currently working on her fourth solo CD with producer John Jennings, who has worked with such notable artists as Mary Chapin Carpenter, John Gorka, Janis Ian and Bill Morrissey.

Applicants for Connecticut State Troubadour were evaluated based on their musical and songwriting abilities, professional accomplishments in the field of music, and experience with diverse audiences. In addition to being a professional musician, Herscovitch is active in public policy and social work. Since receiving a MSW in policy and planning from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work, she has worked in the U.S., Latin America and Asia on behalf of disadvantaged individuals. Education, community development and juvenile justice issues have been the focus of her work. Her deep appreciation for and understanding of the importance of cultural diversity and global issues have also helped to inform her music.

Since the honorary position was established by the Connecticut state legislature in 1991, the following individuals have served as State Troubadours in addition to Herscovitch and Campbell: Thomasina Levy, Dennis Waring, Kevin Briody, Hugh Blumenfeld, Jeff and Synia McQuillan, Sally Rogers, Mike Kachuba, Bill Pere, Phil Rosenthal, Sandy and Caroline Paton, and Tom Callinan.