At South College, tucked away in the last practice room on the left, you’ll find Lilly—a sophomore from Bethlehem, Pa., with a passion for singing and songwriting. At Lafayette, she’s known as Lillian Hercik, but onstage, she goes by Lilly Moss.
Living close to her home in the Lehigh Valley allows Hercik to balance her academics with a busy performance schedule. “Although I initially wanted to attend a large school far away, I realized that I have two dreams here: to receive a great education and to pursue my country singer-songwriter music career—Lafayette has truly become my home away from home.”
While staying focused academically on government and law, her songwriting blossomed unexpectedly through an English poetry course, Writing Genres: Little Daggers (ENG 250). “[The class] opened new doors for me, providing ideas that expanded my thoughts far beyond the box. Sometimes, there are writing styles or words that writers or songwriters tend to avoid, but I learned that what we’re afraid of can often produce the most beautiful outcomes.”
Going to Lafayette made it possible to pursue both of my dreams at once.
Hercik emphasizes that her relationships with professors have been instrumental in balancing her academic studies and music career. “I value the relationships I’ve built with my professors at Lafayette. There’s a shared understanding that I have this ‘AND,’ and other commitments outside of academics.”
Her musical journey began early with voice lessons in sixth grade and piano in eighth, evolving into live performances in Easton, Pa., where she first felt the thrill of being onstage. While sitting at Bacon Fest and watching a band perform, she had a thought: “What if one year I’m on that stage?” Now, these dreams have become a reality for Hercik, marking a full circle moment as she realizes her aspiration to perform at events that inspired her.
It wasn’t until her debut performance at the Easton Winter Village that she realized her passion could become her career. As an aspiring country music artist, she has since performed throughout the Lehigh Valley at Musikfest, Bacon Fest, Porch Fest, Live at the Falls, and Easton Market, among others.
Lillian Hercik ’27 | Photo by Adam Atkinson
Diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia at age 3, Hercik refused to let her illness stand in the way of her dreams. “Two years of my childhood were spent in treatment, an experience that taught me to relentlessly pursue my goals and never take anything for granted. I am passionate about giving back; I performed an original song, ‘Some angels weren’t meant to fly,’ for a sold-out crowd at the Pediatric Cancer Foundation’s Hearts of Gold Gala and created a mosaic artwork to accompany it, which became the highest selling piece of the night at auction.” The pairing raised $20,000 for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley (PCFLV).
Hercik’s dream is to perform sold-out shows and host charity concerts to support childhood cancer research. This December will mark 14 years of her being cancer-free. Following her time at Lafayette, she hopes to pursue a career in either music or law.
Hercik will release her debut country album in November 2024. Learn more: lillymoss.com.
Lillian Hercik ’27 poses for a photo with her sister, Grace, and Roary, the Lafayette Leopard.
