Past Events

Sensorium Ex is an ambitious new opera by acclaimed composer Paola Prestini, co-directed by Jerron Herman and Jay Scheib, that synthesizes artificial intelligence, disability, and the arts in a groundbreaking and innovative artistic work.

Port(al) is a musical and civic exploration of the world through the lens of port cities – where human life and the oceans that connect and sustain us meet.

Paola Prestini's 'Spell' will be performed by members of the San Francisco Symphony in a Soundbox Series concert, curated by Andy Akiho. The series brings extraordinary, multisensory experiences to the underground club atmosphere of the SoundBox space.

Prestini is a featured speaker at On Air Fest, where she will be discussing her creative mission.

Paola Prestini will be speaking in a panel discussion Magos Herreras, Ronda Kasl, Georgina Dopico, and Eugenio Refini about the creative journey of Primero Sueño as part of the Viva Voce series.

Paola Pretini in conversation with Maria Popova, lensed through the music manuscripts of Clara Schumann and others. New York-based composer-keyboardist Forrest Eimold will play selections of work discussed in the conversation.

Paola Prestini will be presented a Visionary Award during the Composers Now festival opening event at National Sawdust.

January 2025, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and VisionIntoArt will co-present the world premiere of Primero Sueño, a site-specific processional opera taking place at The Met Cloisters as part of the MetLiveArts performance season, exploring the life of proto-feminist Mexican nun Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.

A conversation with Maria Popova and composer Paola Prestini, lensed through the music manuscripts of Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn.

On October 31, November 1, 2 and 3, 2024, the season will launch with Paola Prestini and Royce Vavrek's "Silent Light" in Kilbourn Hall, sung in English with supertitles.

Paola's newest operatic work "Silent Light" receives its world premiere at National Sawdust, as part of the venue's 10th anniversary season.

The world premiere of "Mother Moon Songs," including music by Karol Szymanowski and Johannes Brahms. Featuring Soyeon Kate Lee on the piano.

The live album release performance of Paola Prestini's new album - Ancient City.

The first of two evenings of innovative, genre-bending music by improvisational singer, avant-garde composer and bestselling author Tanya Tagaq (Ikaluktutiak, Cambridge Bay, Nunavut). A member of the Order of Canada, Polaris Music Prize and JUNO Award winner, Tagaq curates a special program of compositions performed by and with a number of long-time collaborators including Christine Duncan (improvisational singer and conductor), Jean Martin (drummer and electronic artist), Paola Prestini (classical music composer), and Jeffrey Zeigler (cello)

A new series co-produced by National Sawdust and The Metropolitan Opera that Navigates Questions of What Qualifies as Opera and Who Opera Is For Through Explorations of Modern Works

Montclair State University’s John J Cali School of Music showcases the music of their year long Artist in Residence and award-winning multimedia composer, Paola Prestini. The concert will be a retrospective portrait of her chamber and vocal work, alongside world premieres of new pieces by Cali School composers mentored by Prestini through a partnership with National Sawdust.

The Old Man and the Sea is a new multi-lingual opera from composer Paola Prestini, librettist Royce Vavrek and director Karmina Šilec based on and further inspired by the novel by Ernest Hemingway.

Keynote by composer Paola Prestini – Jan 18 01:00PM-02:00PM EST Plus Paola in conversation with ACF Executive Director Vanessa Rose and CMA President & CEO Kevin Kwan Loucks

SENSORIUM is a multi-modal arts project exploring fundamental questions of what it means to have voice,and the nature of voice beyond language.

The Old Man and the Sea is a new multi-lingual opera from composer Paola Prestini, librettist Royce Vavrek and director Karmina Šilec based on and further inspired by the novel by Ernest Hemingway.