SARA PAJUNEN is an interdisciplinary artist based in Minnesota/Helsinki, specializing in music and the sonic arts. She plays violin and hardanger d’amore, works with still and moving imagery, and is a field recordist and composer-improviser. Born into the immigrant culture of Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range (USA), Pajunen’s artistic practice is driven by the interchange between her ancestral roots, cultural histories, and a deep connection to environments through sound.

Pajunen has studied composition and improvisation with Tanya Kalmanovitch, Anthony Coleman, and Ted Reichman and environmental recording with Chris Watson, Jez Riley French, and Jana Winderen. Pajunen’s 35 minute sound piece Always Dying to Another Day metabolizing illness and chaos was released May 22, 2026. Longterm project Mine Songs: Sounding an Altered Landscape explores the transformed environment of the Mesabi Iron Range, investigating the fissure in our relationship with the earth and the complex stories we tell ourselves (or have been told) about history, power, identity, and agency. Works from Mine Songs have been presented on stage, in galleries, and as a 2024 audio album. The photography book Mine Songs: as above, so below will be published in 2027.

Steeped in both folk and classical music since childhood, Pajunen has studied folk traditions in the Nordic countries (with Arto Järvelä and Ritva Talvitie/FI, Benedicte Maurseth and Knut Hamre/NO, and Mats Edén/SE) and has released six audio albums that use traditional music in progressive yet reverent ways.

Pajunen has performed extensively in Europe and North America and audiovisual work has been shown in galleries around the Midwest. Pajunen’s work has received support from the Jerome Foundation, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Minnesota State Arts Board, Kone Foundation, New Music USA, American Scandinavian Foundation, and the Arts Council of Finland - amongst others. She holds classical music degrees in both the United States and Finland, and a Master of Music in Contemporary Improvisation from New England Conservatory in Boston.

Watch Pioneer PBS piece / Listen to/read WGBH interview here / CV / Bandcamp / Substack
Other projects: SaMa Duo / Musika Medica / Aallotar / Sound an Echo / Laatikko/Box / Arto Järvelä & Kaivama