Today we speak with Laura Huval, a Grammy-nominated recording artist, Catholic speaker, author, composer, and pastoral musician. Laura recently released a sung setting of the rosary, which was premiered on October 7, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. I had the chance to reflect on her inspiration to write a sung version of the rosary, the differences between each decade, and how to access it (for free) today.
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Bio: Laura Huval
Laura is a native of the culturally rich community of Cecilia, Louisiana, located in the region of Acadiana. She is a parishioner of St. Joseph Catholic Church and has served as a music minister for over twenty years. She was brought up in a home filled with music and love for the Lord. Her father, the late Grammy-nominated Cajun musician, Al Berard, along with her mother and sisters were all members of the St. Joseph Church Choir.
Laura taught music for eight years at St. Genevieve Catholic School in Lafayette, Louisiana, and was named Educator of the Year in 2015. She has served the church in many capacities. She served on the Diocesan Pastoral Council as the Youth Representative (Diocese of Lafayette). At her home parish, she serves as the Music Director. She has also served the church as the youth choir director, parish convocation team leader, ministries fair organizer, parish-wide workshop facilitator, faith formation coordinator, and a faith formation teacher.
In July 2021, Huval received the Bishop's Serval Medal (Diocese of Lafayette; Bishop Deshotel) for the many years of service to her church parish (St. Joseph Catholic Church, Cecilia, LA).
In February 2021, Huval released her first Devotional Book, Scripture and Song:40 Day Reflection Devotional. It is a culmination of Huval’s gifts of ministering and teaching through faith-based music. This devotional is a prayer companion for Laura Huval’s 2020 album, It's Never Too Late. Laura was nominated for "Best Gospel Artist" and "Best Country/Folk/Singer-Songwriter Artist" by OffBEAT Magazine for their "Best of The Beat" Awards.
In 2021, Huval's band, Sweet Cecilia, was nominated in the Best Regional Roots Music Album for “A Tribute to Al Berard”, exactly thirty years after her father was nominated. Laura Huval also has a bustling solo career. Huval was nominated for the 2021 OffBEAT Magazine “Best of the Beat Awards” in two categories: Best Gospel Artist and Best Country/Folk/Singer-Songwriter Artist.
In 2019, Huval founded Joyful Noise Ministries, with the mission of “Spreading the Gospel one song at a time.” In 2020, she became a published artist at Oregon Catholic Press (OCP), which is a Catholic Publishing Company. She has been a guest on numerous podcasts (Can I Getta Amen Podcast, Many Hail Mary’s At A Time), and has been the featured guest speaker for various events. Huval was also a contributing writer for the Pursuing Peace Devotional Journal released by the Light Project.
Huval was a featured songwriter during the 2019 SOLO Songwriting Festival and wrote songs with Nashville greats, Jim Lauderdale and Rusty Tabor. Huval has shared the stage and collaborated with legends Don Helmes, Jimmy C. Newman, D.L. Menard, Vin Bruce, Zachary Richard, Sonny Landreth, Roddie Romero, Buckwheat Zydeco, Louise Goffin, Lil Buck Senegal, and many others. She has been featured on albums by Brother Dege Legg, Bas Clas, Bonsoir Catin (Grammy Nominated Album 2015), Lane Mack, Major Handy, Blaine Roy and Second Wind, Ken Holloway, Cameron Dupuy (Grammy Nominated Album 2021), and many more.
In 2018, Huval was a featured story-teller for the Lafayette Storytellers Night, where she shared the stories and inspiration behind her song, “Red Bird Flies”, which has garnered national attention.
Huval is an advocate for the Cajun/Creole Culture in St. Martin Parish. In 2018, she became the co-chair of the Cecilia et Les Alentours Cultural District, which established her hometown, Cecilia, Louisiana, as a hub of cultural activity in the state of Louisiana.
In 2014, Huval co-founded the Al Berard Memorial Music Fund at Community Foundation of Acadiana, to honor her late father, Al Berard. The fund supports community organizations and incentives that promote our rich Cajun/Creole heritage, arts, music, and French language.
Huval has performed with Sweet Cecilia at Festival International de Louisiane in Lafayette, Louisiana; the world famous Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana; French Quarter Festival; New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in Louisiana, and many more venues across the gulf coast. She also performs with her husband, accordionist, Adrian Huval of the Louisiana based group, The Bluerunners. She and her husband have two sons, Nate and Rex, and reside in Cecilia, Louisiana.
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