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Lara Solnicki

Vocalist, Composer and Poet

About Me

Honoured as a “world class jazz singer” for her “spellbinding voice” and “boldly unique style” (—Everett. R. Davis, All About Jazz), vocalist, composer and “poet of the most advanced kind” (—A.F Moritz, Poet Laureate of the City of Toronto), Lara Solnicki enjoys a busy schedule, with #1 songs on Canadian jazz radio and web charts (Radio Canada, CBC), garnering rave reviews from four continents. The artist, who splits her time between Toronto and Brooklyn, is the recipient of numerous CD recording, composition, international residency and professional development grants from The Canada Council for the Arts, The Foundation Supporting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR), The Ontario Arts Council, The Toronto Arts Council and The Chalmers Foundation.

A classically trained singer with a four octave range, she originally intended a career in opera, receiving a BA from The Glenn Gould School/ Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, where she was the recipient of numerous scholarships, studying in the Performance Diploma and Artist Diploma programs. In addition, she has been mentored by dozens of international artists in the fields of classical music, jazz and creative music, including professional development grants to work with Greg Osby (2017), Frank Carlberg and David Berkman (2018), and Dominique Eade and Ran Blake (date TBD).

Praised for “her spontaneous interpretation of standard and original repertoire, teeming with individualism and vocal mastery.” (—Hot House Jazz Guide, NYC, Spotlight section) for her “outstanding musicianship” and “superb vocal technique” (—Thomas Cunniffe, Jazz History Online). Lara was a finalist in the Révélations Radio-Canada 2014 competition, jazz artist category. Previous releases are Whose Shadow? (2014) on Greg Osby’s label, Inner Circle Music, and her self-released A Meadow in December (2010). She has been featured in CD compilations produced by JAZZIZ Magazine, and “For Jazz Vocal Fans Only vol. 1” (Japan).

A published poet born into a family of professional writers, Lara launched her first book of poems and experimental prose in fall 2006, “Disassembled Stars” (Lyrical Myrical Press). Her poetry has since appeared in international and national anthologies and magazines.

Current composition projects in the works include a dramatic recited oratorio, edited by A.F Moritz, Toronto’s Poet Laureate (2019-2021). www.larasolnicki.com