CV
SARA PAJUNEN
Born in Virginia, MN
Resides in Minnesota
EDUCATION
New England Conservatory of Music (Boston, MA) Master of Music in Contemporary Improvisation
Stadia (Helsinki, Finland) Performance Studies, Violin
University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) Bachelor of Arts in Music
SELECTED AWARDS/RESIDENCIES
Kone Foundation Saari Residency
Banff Musician in Residence
American Scandinavian Foundation Grant
Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Support for Individuals Grant
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council Grant
Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant
MASS MoCA Assets for Artists 2016 Taike Arts Promotion Center (Finland)
Mallard Island Residency, Ernest C. Oberholtzer Foundation
Finlandia Foundation National Performer of the Year
Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant
Cedar Cultural Center '416 Club Commissions' Grant
SELECTED PERFORMANCES AND SCREENINGS
Dreamsong Gallery, Minneapolis MN
Folkelarm (Official Showcase), Oslo Norway
Symphony Hall, Boston MA
Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer MN
Folk Alliance International (Offical Showcase), Kansas City KS
Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, Kaustinen Finland
The Ark, Ann Arbor MI
Trece Uho Festival, Dubrovnik Croatia
Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis MN
Sounds of the North, Gdansk Poland
Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago IL
Club Passim, Cambridge MA
EXHIBITIONS
Joseph Nease Gallery, Duluth MN, solo exhibition “Listening Through Context”
Lyric Center for the Arts, Virginia MN
Finlandia University, Hancock MI
Plains Art Museum, Fargo ND, part of High Visibility
Furlong Gallery, University of Wisconsin Stout
SELECTED PRESS
fRoots (UK) ‘Extra elusive appeal’
Rolling Stone (US) ‘Swoons lovingly ’
SongLines (UK) ‘Passion and integrity shines through’
Star Tribune (US) ‘A little wonder’
Nordische Musik (GER)
Kansanmusiikki (FIN)
Minnesota Public Radio (US)
Yle Radio Suomi (FIN)
EKultura (HUN)
Mtv3 (FIN)
ADDITIONAL EDUCATION
CAMP FR Field Recording Workshop (with Jana Winderen) / Aulus-les-Bains, France
Hardingfele studies (with Knut Hamre and Benedicte Maurseth) / Hardanger, Norway
Murmuration Field Recording Workshop (with Chris Watson and Jez Riley French) / Glenshee, Scotland
History of Sound Art Course / Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble Workshop / The House Foundation for the Arts NYC
Tango for Musicians / Reed College, OR
Finnish Folk Music Studies (with Arto Järvelä) / Ala-Könni-opisto, Kaustinen Finland
TEACHING
Fiddle Hell Online
Nordic Folk Music Workshop Series, Nordic Center, Duluth MN
Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study
Teaching Assistant, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston MA
Sustaining Scandinavian Folk Music Symposium, University of Wisconsin Madison
House of Musical Traditions, Washington DC
Minnesota Public Radio Class Notes Artist
Fiddle Club of the World, Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago IL
Kaustinen Folk Music, Festival Finland
St Paul Conservatory for the Performing Arts
Finnish Folk School, Finlandia University, Hancock MI