Sara Serpa – Close Up
Sara Serpa, from Lisbon, based in New York, is a vocalist, composer, improviser, curator, magazine editor, and co-founder of Mutual Mentorship for Musicians. Described by The New York Times as “a singer of silvery poise and cosmopolitan outlook,” and by JazzTimes as “a master of wordless landscapes,” Serpa explores the voice as an instrument and the intersections of sound, emotion, and narrative. Her work spans composed and improvised music, collaborative and interdisciplinary projects, and editorial initiatives, forming a constellation of interconnected artistic practices. Born and raised in Lisbon, Portugal, Serpa grew up immersed in books, art, and music. Her work is often shaped by themes of migration, history, and identity, and she draws inspiration from poetry, film, and global political narratives.
A long-time New Yorker, Sara Serpa has performed at some of New York City’s most iconic venues, including Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Joe’s Pub, and the Village Vanguard. Since 2008, she has toured internationally with her own projects, bringing her genre-defying music to festivals and stages across Europe, Australia, North and South America. Serpa has been touring extensively with bassist Linda May Han Oh, contributing her voice to some of today’s most visionary and boundary-pushing musical collaborations. Over the years, she has worked with an impressive range of artists, including Ran Blake, Mark Turner, Ingrid Laubrock, Zeena Parkins, Sofía Rei, Angelica Sanchez, Aubrey Johnson, Matt Mitchell, Kris Davis, David Virelles, John Zorn, Erik Friedlander, Danilo Perez, Greg Osby, Qasim Naqvi, Okkyung Lee, and André Matos, her long-time duo partner, among many others. Serpa’s voice has also inspired and contributed to the work of renowned contemporary composers, including Andreia Pinto Correia, Aya Nishina, Ashley Fure, Derek Bermel, Joseph C. Phillips Jr., and Ingrid Laubrock.
Beyond the stage, Serpa is also the co-founder of M³ (Mutual Mentorship for Musicians), a groundbreaking collective dedicated to supporting women and gender-expansive artists through mentorship, collaboration, and community-building. With M³, she’s helped create a living archive of music, writing, and conversations that center underrepresented voices in the music world. A passionate educator, Serpa teaches at The New School along with workshops and clinics around the world. Whether in performance, collaboration, or community-building, she continues to redefine what it means to be a vocalist and composer in the XXI century.
