Hello. I'm Alex.

Alex Prizgintas: Author, Musician, Historian, and Preservationist

Alex Prizgintas is a New York-based historian and musician who lives and works in the Hudson Valley.

A life-long resident of the region, his draw to local history came at a young age through collecting artifacts that represent American culture, an interest still driving his passion to this day. First immersing himself into the world of local preservation by becoming a member of the Woodbury Historical Society at the age of eleven, he now serves both as President of the organization and as government-appointed Town Historian of Woodbury. Alex has built working relations with several historical societies and museums across the Hudson Valley—both as a participating member and as a lecturer on topics of local history. His primary mission is to foster collaboration among local historical societies, which aids our communities in better understanding the rich history throughout the Hudson Valley.

Alex earned his B.A. from Marist College (summa cum laude) with a minor in Hudson River Valley Studies and a concentration in Public History. As an undergraduate student at Marist, he spent two semesters interning with the Hudson River Valley Institute—a college branch that publishes the peer-reviewed Hudson River Valley Review journal. Two of Alex’s scholarly works were published in this journal during his time as a student. Additionally, he produced a 35-minute documentary covering the history of landscape architecture in the Hudson Valley, featuring noted historians such as Dr. Francis Kowsky of SUNY’s Buffalo State College. Alex subsequently earned his M.P.A. from Marist, which has given him the administrative skills crucial in leading historical societies to achieve unique and new approaches to community engagement.

As a musician, Alex has more than ten years of classical training as a cellist. Augmented with tools such as guitar effect pedals, a looping station, an amplifier, wireless microphones, and a mixing board, he pushes the limits of his acoustic instrument through the repertoire of Jazz, Rock ’n Roll, Latin Tangos, Broadway Classics, and more. His inaugural “Bach to Rock” program has since grown to fourteen different shows, performed at community venues in nearly every corner of the Hudson Valley. Furthermore, each musical selection is coupled with scripted narrations that tease our audience with dialogues that offer historical insight and casual conversation. With new, popular selections such as “Woodstock 1969,” “America’s Jazz Ambassadors,” and “From Tangos to Bossa Novas,” Alex is on the road 200 times each year.

To book a musical performance, lecture, or ask a question, please contact me here:

Contact Me

Starting in January 2025, I received the great honor of being appointed as Town Historian of Woodbury, Orange County, NY. My work follows in the steps of my mentor, Leslie Rose, who I first met at the Woodbury Historical Society when I was eleven years old and continue to learn from to this day. As both town historian and president of the Woodbury Historical Society, my continued goal will be to expand the interest and accessibility of our local history to wide, diverse audiences.

In 2024, I was honored to have my accomplishments both in college and around the Hudson Valley featured by For The Record. A branch of Marist College, this initiative honors students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members who are anything, but the ordinary. Each unique story is be shared through digital art, portrait photography, video and the written word. To read more about Alex’s Story, please click here: https://maristftr.com/alex-prizingtas and below is a preview:

In May 2023, my work as an author and musician, alongside my diagnosis with autism spectrum disorder and synesthesia, were featured by the Hudson Valley’s own Anderson Center for Autism! To listen, please click here.