Take Two: Recorder Duos Through History

Sarah Shodja and Teresa Deskur perform recorder chamber works through the ages.

Program:

Orlando Gibbons: Fantasia

Antonio Gardane: Amys souffres

Joyssance, Anonymous

Thomas Morley: I goe before, my darling

G.P Telemann: Sonata No. 3 from “6 Duets” TWV 40:124-129

Jean Baptiste Loeillet de Gant: Sonata No. 4

Anton Heberle: Duo for Two Czakans

Franz Müller-Busch: Blue Duets

Richard Eastman: Dancers

Laurie G. Alberts: Imitations

Persian musician Sarah Shodja specializes in the recorder and was one of the first women in
Iran to play the recorder in concert halls. In 2017, Sarah was awarded a full scholarship to study
with Gwyn Roberts at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, where she earned
a bachelor’s degree in Historical Performance.

In addition to her solo performances, Sarah is a sought-after collaborator, having worked with
the Baltimore Baroque Band, Peabody Renaissance Ensemble, Washington Bach Consort,
Tempesta Di Mare, and Peabody Recorder consort. She also established a recorder consort,
Tehran Recorder Atelier, along with three of her women recorder-playing colleagues. Other past
engagements include performances with Shargh Chamber Orchestra and Pars Recorder Orchestra
in her home country.

In the summer of 2022, she became a faculty member of Mountain Collegium. She, along with
her colleague Teresa Deskur, founded the Fanfare Youth Recorder Club for young recorder
players around the world during the pandemic. Sarah also has experience playing jazz music
and has collaborated in two published contemporary albums. She is an enthusiastic advocate for
the recorder and uses her platform to spread the beauty and versatility of this instrument and
inspire others to appreciate it as well.

An Upstate NY local, Teresa Deskur started playing recorder at age 5, and never stopped! She
took first prize in the 2020 University-Instrumental category of Boulder Bach Festival’s World
Bach Competition. In 2016, Teresa won Philadelphia based Renaissance band Piffaro’s National
Recorder Competition and appeared as a guest performer with the group in March 2017. She has
performed regularly with the Peabody Renaissance Ensemble and Baltimore Baroque Band. She
frequently enjoys duet recitals with Peabody colleague and collaborator Sarah Shodja.

As an educator and advocate for making music accessible and equitable, Teresa is passionate
about community outreach. Teresa is a co-founder of the Fanfare Youth Recorder Club, which
brings together middle and high school recorder players from around the world to connect
virtually and learn from one another. She has also served on Early Music America’s Emerging
Professional Leadership Committee since 2021 and is currently on the board for the Future in
Music Mentorship Program.

Teresa received her bachelor’s in Horn Performance and Music Education with a minor in
Historical Performance at Peabody Conservatory, where she studied with Wei-Ping Chou and
Gwyn Roberts. She currently directs concert and jazz bands at Owego-Apalachin Middle School
in Owego, NY.

This recital has not yet been sponsored. If you would like to sponsor this event and have your name published on the program, please make a donation of $250 to CMM and let us know which event your sponsorship is going towards.

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