Natalia Paruz

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Natalia 'Saw Lady' Paruz is a New York City-based musical saw and novelty instrument player and busker. She is the organizer of the saw players' gatherings in New York City and in Israel, columnist of the 'Saw Player News' and judge at international musical saw competitions.

Paruz has played the musical saw on many film soundtracks and can be seen as well as heard in the movie Dummy starring Adrian Brody. She has performed with orchestras such as the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Zubin Mehta), the Westchester Philharmonic, the Royal Air Moroccan Symphony Orchestra and at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall with PDQ Bach composer Peter Schickele and with the Little Orchestra Society. Her musical saw can be heard in many TV commercials and she has appeared on numerous TV and radio programs around the world. Garisson Keillor of the 'Prairie Home Companion' radio show has dubbed Natalia the show's 'official saw player'. As a studio musician, her musical saw has been recorded for albums of bands and composers such as John Hiatt. She played at many festivals, such as the Utah Arts Festival, the World Trade Center's Buskers Fair and at the Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors Festival.

Paruz often plays the musical saw in contemporary music, encouraging today's composers to write for this instrument.

Paruz is considered the most knowledgable about the history of the musical saw, and her home is a pilgrimage place for saw enthusiasts.

Along with her professional career Paruz makes a point to also perform on the streets and subways as a busker. She has busked in the USA, Italy, Israel, Czech Republic and France. Paruz also served as a judge at the Music Under New York auditions for subway musicians. She is a recipient of many awards, including citations of honor from the New York City Council, the New York State Senate and a medal of honor from Paris, France. She was chosen for the 'Best of New York' list of the 'Village Voice' two years in a row, as well as for the lists of 'Time Out New York', the 'New York Press' and the 'New York Resident'.

Paruz also plays a set of 65 pitched cowbells, English handbells, 4-in-hand hand bells, theremin and glass harp.