Lara Downes

Lara Downes is an American pianist based in Sacramento, California, known for recordings that explore American music and its shared history. Her albums include America Again, For Lenny, and Holes in the Sky. She is also a curator and an NPR presence, serving as a rotating guest host for From The Top and creator of the NPR series Amplify with Lara Downes. Her Loghaven connection is a residency listed in the Fellows directory for 2021, while the brief gives 2020. She returned to Loghaven in September 2025 to record 'Amazing Grace' with local musicians, and the residency featured in her five-part PBS series The Declaration Project, with an episode filmed in Knoxville.