Biography
Duo Kashperova
Championing her music and channelling her spirit
As Duo Kashperova, pianist Sandra Ruttan and cellist Alyssa Wright champion their namesake's music and channel her spirit, exploring lesser-known treasures and introducing audiences to great works not (yet) part of the standard repertoire.
Alyssa and Sandra first performed together in 2007 as two-thirds of the Amity Piano Trio, which performed at concert series and festivals around southern Ontario. They were reunited in 2023 to perform at trio violinist Michael Adamson's memorial concert, and rediscovered their joy of playing together, as well as their shared interests in exploring new music and uncovering hidden gems by forgotten (or censored) composers.
It was while searching for pieces to complement a Stravinsky-focused recital program that Sandra and Alyssa first heard of Leocadiya Kashperova (1872-1940) and her two cello sonatas. The fact that Kashperova had been one of Stravinsky's teachers seemed like a perfect tie-in -- and being able to access her original scores on IMSLP was an added bonus! Even on their first read-through of the Sonata in G, it was obvious what a wonderful piece of writing this was, especially for an "Opus 1, Number 1" (writing for cello and piano can be inordinately tricky, with many composers not brave enough to tackle this so early in their careers -- and a scant few able to do it so successfully). A few rehearsals later, and they were no longer looking at the Stravinsky, but instead taking a deep dive into the music and life story of this incredible pianist and composer.
Kashperova was recognized in her time as a fiercely talented pianist and composer, but her music was later buried due to the mechanisms of both revolution and patriarchy. (Both of which, as Sandra and Alyssa have discovered, are themes already hidden in her Opus 1, Number 1.) They have fallen just a teensy bit in love with the way she was forever pushing back on imposed convention, her playful spirit, her immense strength and self-assuredness, her dedication to music and muse, and especially her joy in having a subversive moment or two. Duo Kashperova hope to honour all these elements with their new name and new mission.
Duo Kashperova is releasing their recording of Kashperova's Sonata for Piano And Cello, Op.1 No.1 in January 2026, and will be performing the Canadian Premiere of this work for the Barrie Concert Association in April. They will also be publishing an annotated score, and creating a series of videos and essays to share all their discoveries about the composer and her music.
Please join the mailing list (below) to get notified as soon as each of these elements becomes available.
Individual Biographies
Sandra Ruttan
Pianist
Sandra Ruttan is a proud "local" performer in Barrie, Ontario. She is a graduate of the faculty of Music at Western University (1992) where she studied as a pianist with Ronald Turini. Post graduation she also studied voice privately with Margaret Zeidman-Kukurugya. Living a busy life as a wife, mother, teacher, and more recently, mental health support worker, she has always managed to also pursue her passion for music and performing.
Sandra has performed extensively in the Barrie area as a pianist, harpschordist, and/or vocalist with the New Tecumseth Singers, Opera Barrie, The Kempenfelt Community Players, the Lyrica Chamber Choir, The Apollo Chamber Orchestra, the York Chamber Ensemble, the Huronia Symphony Orchestra, The Colours of Music Festival (as part of the Amity Piano Trio), and the Mid-day Music on the Shigeru concert series.
She is super excited to be spending time with cellist, Alyssa Wright, exploring the music of composers who, like Leokadiya Kashperova, have been “rediscovered” and sharing lesser known, but nevertheless beautiful and insightful, works.