Compositions

A site-specific choral theater work, Port(al) offers 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, jazz sensation Magos Herrera and German vocal sextet Sjaella come together at the Met Cloisters to recreate the dream of the first Mexican proto-femenist, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.

Con Alma is an album and live digital experience of original works by composer Paola Prestini and vocalist and composer Magos Herrera, along with some classics from the Mexican and Jazz songbook.

Choral Sextet comissioned by the Sjaella Ensemble in 2020.

Solo piano commissioned by Min Kwon for America/Beautiful Project.

Written during the pandemic for the Young People's Chorus and their amazing AloneTogether Project. For SSA

For string orchestra and solo cello. Paola Prestini and Tanya Tagaq.

Solo Violin and Electronics, commissioned by Michael Lim

A Collaboration with cellist Jeffrey Zeigler, filmmaker Murat Eyuboglu, and dancer/choreographers Georgina Pazcoguin and Dai Matsuoka. Commissioned by the Broad Museum. Developed at MASS MoCA.

For mezzo-soprano and electronics. Commissioned by Jill Steinberg and WNET's ALL ARTS.

Commissioned by Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts. For string quartet.

for mezzo-soprano, clarinet, and piano

for solo tenor saxophone

Commissioned by the Krannert Center. Room 35 for solo cello and electronics.

for solo violin

for string quartet

For baritone and cello

For soprano, cello, and electronics. Libretto by Brenda Shaughnessy

For SSA choir. Biking Through Time is a work written for the Brooklyn Youth Chorus inspired by Maria Popova's Brain Pickings.

for brass quintet

Film Score for violin, cello, guitar, percussion, piano and vocals. PBS Reframed.

For brass quintet. Premiered at The Juilliard School.

Double String Quartet. Premiered at the Juilliard School.

For brass quintet. Commissioned by The Monumental Brass Quintet for the Women’s Commissioning Project, Washington, D.C.

For solo violin.

Viola solo for Melia Watras.

solo for marimba.

For string quartet and electronics. Commissioned by the Kronos Quartet.

for solo cello.

Solo piano written for Speranza Scappucci.

Solo for vibraphone and electronics.

Commissioned by the New York Philharmonic for the Biennale. For solo cello.

Commissioned by Francesca de Pasquale. For solo violin.

Solos for violin, viola, cello, and double bass.

Commissioned by The Juilliard School and the Morgan Library For The Juilliard School's Spring 2017 PianoScope Festival. For solo piano.

For clarinet, string quartet, percussion, with or without voice. Performed at the Whitney Live. For clarinet, cello and vibes. Flexible orchestration. VisionIntoArt and Helga Davis performing.

Commissioned by the UCLA Davise Fund for Inna Faliks. For solo piano.

Commissioned by University of Nebraska Lincoln for Jonah Sirota. For solo viola and looper.

Developed and commissioned by Arizona State University and Carolina Performing Arts, produced by Beth Morrison Projects. For string quartet.

Commissioned by Golden Hornet for Jeffrey Zeigler. For cello and electronics.

Commissioned by Anthone de Mare for LIAISONS 2020. For solo piano.

Commissioned by Amanda Gookin for Forward Music Project. Solo cello and electronics.

Commissioned by the Krannert Center. House of Solitude for solo violin and electronics.

Comissioned by Cabrillo Music Festival, Ravinia, Oregon Bach Festival and Louisville Orchestra. Piano concerto for Lara Downes.

Commissioned by WNYC. For clarinet (or violin), cello, and vibes. Performed by the Chicago Symphony Music Now series and at WNYC’s Greene Space.

Piano Concerto for Awadagin Pratt, Roomful of Teeth and A Far Cry.

Commissioned by the Juilliard School for Beyond the Machine. For cello and percussion and electronics.

For string quartet and vibraphone. Premiered and written for Ian Rosenbaum and Brooklyn Rider.

Commissioned by Yevgeny Kutik. For solo violin and piano.

Commissioned by Allison Loggins-Hull. For flute and piano exploring the duality of being a mother and artist.

Commissioned by WNYC. Song cycle for soprano, clarinet, string trio, percussion, and electronics.

Work for orchestra. Please email for inquiries.

Opener for orchestra. Please email for rental inquiries.

Commissioned by the American Composers Orchestra. For orchestra with film by Mami Kosemura.

A Concept by Paola Prestini, Erika Harrsch and Jeffrey Zeigler, commissioned by VisionIntoArt for the Whitney Live series. Exploring body parts and their history through surreal imagery.

Song Cycle for soprano and piano. Commissioned by Young Concert Artists for Sarah Wolfson.

Commissioned by Opera America for The Opera America Songbook. For baritone and piano, text by Donna Di Novelli.

Commissioned by Carnegie Hall. Folk Opera and song cycle with film. Concept and dramaturgy by Paola Prestini, libretto by Donna Di Novelli, and film by Ali Hossaini. Improvisations by Helga Davis.

Commissioned by MATA. For singing pianist and electronics.

Song cycle for mezzo soprano, cello and guitar; mezzo soprano and piano; and 2 mezzo sopranos, cello, guitar, and piano. Libretto by Royce Vavrek.

Commissioned by Heather Fetrow and Mila Henry for Voices of Women Project. For 2 sopranos and piano. Lyrics by Mark Campbell.

Suite of Songs from Oceanic Verses. For soprano, baritone, and varied ensembles.

Grand opera commissioned by Minnesota Opera. Libretto by Mark Campbell, direction by Eric Simonson, based on the novel by Kate Di Camillo.

Commissioned by BAM, the Young People's Chorus of NYC, and VisionIntoArt. A choral installation with text by Niloufar Talebi with visuals by Ali Hossaini, directed by Michael McQuilken.

Commissioning project with Brooklyn Youth Chorus for Silent Voices II. For a cappella children’s chorus.

Commissioned by Michael Straus for Suzi Digby and the ORA Singers. For mixed choir.

Commissioned by the Walker Art Center and the Krannert Center. Choral Opera for singing actor, children's chorus and string quartet. Text by Rinde Eckert, direction by Julian Crouch.

Commissioned by The Met Museum and Houston Da Camera. Choral Eco-Documentary. Words by conservationist William de Boys, directed by Murat Eyuboglu. Roomful of Teeth, Jeffrey Zeigler and Glenn Kotche.

Co-commission by the Young People's Chorus of New York City and Yale Choral Artists, for mixed choir and children's choir. Text by Royce Vavrek and live painting by Kevork Mourad.

Commissioned by Bay Chamber Concerts. Cantata with libretto by Royce Vavrek, narration by astrophysicist Mario Livio, sound by ARUP, and VR by Eliza McNitt. Arias for soprano and piano exist. 

Grand Opera commissioned by Friends of Madam Whitesnake. Libretto by Cerice Jacobs, direction by Michael Counts, video by S. Katy Tucker, produced by Beth Morrison Projects.

Monodrama for mezzo soprano, piano and electronics. Co-commissioned by the Kennedy Center, San Diego Opera, The Momentary at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Arts and National Sawdust.

Music by Paola Prestini, libretto by Brenda Shaughnessy, co-directed by Jerron Herman and Jay Scheib. Community Lead Gregg Mozgala. Lead produced by VisionIntoArt with Beth Morrison Projects.

Grand opera inspired by Hemingway. Directed by Karmina Šilec, Libretto by Royce Vavrek, and choreographed by Sidra Bell. Design by Dorian Silec.

Chamber work commissioned by The New York Philharmonic for Project 19. Words by Maria Popova, for soprano, violin, viola, cello, percussion, and fixed and live electronics.

Commissioned by the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Chamber opera with libretto by Royce Vavrek and direction/design/concept by Thaddeus Strassberger, foley by Sxip Shirey.