State’s Office of the Arts Names Middletown Resident to Three-Year Post

(HARTFORD, CT) — Governor Dannel P. Malloy and the Connecticut Office of the Arts today announced the appointment of Nekita Waller of Middletown as Connecticut’s 17th State Troubadour.

The honorary position of State Troubadour was established by the Connecticut legislature in 1991.  Duties include serving as an ambassador of music and song, promoting cultural literacy among Connecticut citizens, and promoting the State of Connecticut in song.  Waller will serve a three-year term beginning August 1, 2018. She succeeds Kate Callahan who served from 2016 to 2018.

“It is with great honor that we announce Nekita Waller as Connecticut’s next State Troubadour,” Governor Malloy said. “Her appointment is an historic one and reflects the rich diversity of culture and talent of our state. Ms. Waller shares a deep passion for Connecticut and we are proud to have her as our state ambassador of music, culture and song. It will be a pleasure to see and hear what great things she will surely achieve during her tenure.”

“Traditionally this position is held by a folk singer but Nekita, Connecticut’s first African American Troubadour, brings a new dimension to the position with a strong background in soul and pop,” said Kristina Newman-Scott, Executive Director of the Connecticut Office of the Arts.  “We are just thrilled to have Nekita representing Connecticut. With a fresh vision, authentic heart, and her compelling message that Connecticut is ‘a state that I believe in’ we know she’ll serve us well.”

About Nekita Waller

Nekita Waller is a professional singer who has been performing in the state for decades. She won a statewide talent contest as a teen and had her stage debut at the Apollo Theater before Steve Harvey. She has won several singing awards including 2015’s Northwest Idol in Torrington.  Nekita currently performs popular music with a band and sings for special events such as Veterans Day and Martin Luther King Day programs, and in nursing homes, schools, and other venues.

Her “Connecticut Anthem” video shows her considerable talents and passion for the state.  “We are an inclusive state.  We are as different as the seasons here in Connecticut.  I hope my song paints a picture of the beautiful place I call home,” she said.

As Connecticut’s first African American State Troubadour, Nekita wants to use this title to visit schools and meet children who don’t have the same level of opportunities afforded to them as others. “Music is my purest form of communication. It doesn’t care how much money you have, where you were born, the color of your skin, or how old you are,” notes Nekita. “There is no greater feeling or purpose than to help another person. Whether it is to make someone smile, dance, brighten their day or help them reach a better level of themselves, this is life’s greatest award.”

About Connecticut Office of the Arts
The Office of the Arts develops and strengthens the arts in Connecticut and makes artistic experiences widely available to residents and visitors. Through its programs and services, the Office of the Arts connects people to the arts and helps to build vital communities across the state.