Teresa Deskur performs music on early wind instruments from the Medieval to present day. She balances a love for early music with a zeal for performing contemporary and classical works, eager to highlight both music that teaches us about the past and celebrates current innovations.
Teresa started playing recorder at age 5, and never stopped! She has performed with Tempesta di Mare, the Peabody Consort, the IEMF Festival Band, NYS Baroque, and Piffaro the Renaissance Band. Teresa has won first prize in several music competitions, including the 2023 Orpheus Virtual Recorder Competition, 2020 Boulder Bach Festival’s World Bach Competition, and 2016 Piffaro’s National Recorder Competition. 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. She enjoys leading workshops for American Recorder Society chapters, the North American Virtual Recorder Society, and has served as faculty and staff for the Amherst Early Music Festival. Teresa is a co-founder of the Fanfare Youth Recorder Club, which brings together young recorder players from around the world to connect virtually and learn from one another. She has been a member of Early Music America’s Emerging Professional Leadership Committee as well as EMA’s Development Committee 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 horn with Wei-Ping Chou and recorder with Gwyn Roberts. She has directed concert and jazz bands in Owego, NY, and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in early music at McGill University.