Shodekeh's Life Journey and Work

Shodekeh is Born

Shodekeh was born September 30th, 1977 at Providence Hospital in Washington D.C. On September 5th of this same month, the Voyager 1 mission was launched by NASA. This coincidence influenced Shodekeh's involvement in a 2018 music curation project that featured collaborations between the One Beat music program and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This project re-imagined The Golden Record, an audio recording originally placed on the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecrafts, with remixes and guest artists providing their own interpretations of the cosmos bound tracks.

Suitland High School

In 1994, Shodekeh started at Suitland High School in Suitland, Maryland. While there, he was accepted into the Visual & Performing Arts magnet program and studied Television Production

Penn State University

Shodekeh began attending Penn State University in 1997, and became a DJ and resident beatboxer at The Lion 90.7 FM, Penn State Student Radio.

Coppin State University

In 2002, Shodekeh enrolled at Coppin State University in Baltimore. While there, he performed as a soloist with the Coppin State University Choir, and on October 26, 2002, he participated in an opening performance for President Bill Clinton.

SLAMicide

In 2003, Shodekeh became the resident Beatboxer for SLAMicide, a weekly poetry event held in Charles Village, Baltimore.

Dance Technique Musician at Towson U

After leaving Coppin State in 2006, Shodekeh was invited to become a Dance Technique Musician for the Towson University Department of Dance. Using his professional beatboxer and vocal percussionist skills, he provided musical support for Modern Dance and Ballet classes.

Dance Technique Musician at Duke

Following his work at Towson, Shodekeh was invited to provide support as a Dance Technique Musician for the American Dance Festival at Duke University in 2007.

Conference on World Affairs

In 2008, Shodekeh was as a panelist and musician at the Conference on World Affairs at the University of Colorado.

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

In 2010, Shodekeh was the first beatboxer and hip-hop soloist to perform with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, for the U.S. premier of Fujiko's Fairy Tale, composed by Jennah Vainio.

Residency in Kyzyl, Tuva

Shodekeh met and rehearsed with the world renowned Khoomei / Tuvan Throat Singing ensemble Alash for the first time in 2011 during their visit to Towson University.

Curator at Reginald F. Lewis Museum

In 2013, Shodekeh acted as a music researcher and curator for the exhibit For Whom It Stands at the Smithsonian-affiliated Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture in Baltimore.

Salzburg Global Seminar

In 2015, Shodekeh participated in the Salzburg Global Seminar The Neuroscience of Art conference in Salzburg, Austria. There, he and neurotologist Dr. Charles Limb, discussed their partnership to discover and highlight the muscles and internal movements beatboxers use when they perform.

OneBeat Records

In 2018 Shodekeh brought his connection with the Voyager spacecraft to bear on his art, when he was invited to participate as a musical ambassador, performer, and composer for the One Beat music program. Here he helped re-imagine the The Golden Record from the NASA Voyager 1 and 2 missions.

Innovator-in-Residence at Towson U

In 2019, Shodekeh returned to Towson University, where he was invited to be the first Innovator-in-Residence for the College of Fine Arts and Communication.

Annapolis Symphony Orchestra

In 2020, Shodekeh was asked to compose original music for the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra's Annapolis Symphony Academy and the world renowned percussion ensemble So Percussion.

Princeton University

On September 18, 2021 Shodekeh performed as a guest with So Percussion at Princeton University's Richardson Auditorium.

Carnegie Hall

On December 11, 2021, Shodekeh performed with Sō Percussion at Carnegie Hall in New York, along with musicians Nathalie Joachim, Caroline Shaw, and Jason Treuting.

Shodekeh is Born

Shodekeh was born September 30th, 1977 at Providence Hospital in Washington D.C. On September 5th of this same month, the  Voyager 1  mission was launched by NASA. This coincidence influenced Shodekeh's involvement in a 2018 music curation project that featured collaborations between the  One Beat  music program and  NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory . This project re-imagined  The Golden Record , an audio recording originally placed on the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecrafts, with remixes and guest artists providing their own interpretations of the cosmos bound tracks.

Suitland High School

In 1994, Shodekeh started at Suitland High School in Suitland, Maryland. While there, he was accepted into the Visual & Performing Arts magnet program and studied Television Production

Penn State University

Shodekeh began attending  Penn State University  in 1997, and became a DJ and resident beatboxer at The Lion 90.7 FM, Penn State Student Radio.

In 2001, Shodekeh became the first fully dedicated vocal percussionist in the Penn State acapella group None of the Above.

In 2002, he founded the group Larynx with Jamie Howe, the first beatbox and vocal percussion ensemble in Penn State acapella history.

Coppin State University

In 2002, Shodekeh enrolled at  Coppin State University  in Baltimore. While there, he performed as a soloist with the Coppin State University Choir, and on October 26, 2002, he participated in an opening performance for President Bill Clinton.

SLAMicide

In 2003, Shodekeh became the resident Beatboxer for SLAMicide, a weekly poetry event held in Charles Village, Baltimore.

Dance Technique Musician at Towson U

After leaving Coppin State in 2006, Shodekeh was invited to become a Dance Technique Musician for the  Towson University Department of Dance . Using his professional beatboxer and vocal percussionist skills, he provided musical support for Modern Dance and Ballet classes.

Dance Technique Musician at Duke

Following his work at Towson, Shodekeh was invited to provide support as a Dance Technique Musician for the  American Dance Festival  at Duke University in 2007.

Conference on World Affairs

In 2008, Shodekeh was as a panelist and musician at the  Conference on World Affairs  at the University of Colorado.

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

In 2010, Shodekeh was the first beatboxer and hip-hop soloist to perform with the  Baltimore Symphony Orchestra , for the U.S. premier of Fujiko's Fairy Tale, composed by Jennah Vainio.

Residency in Kyzyl, Tuva

Shodekeh met and rehearsed with the world renowned  Khoomei  / Tuvan Throat Singing ensemble  Alash  for the first time in 2011 during their visit to Towson University.

In 2012, Shodekeh was invited for a summer residency in Kyzyl, Tuva. This small Russian republic is the throat singing capital of the world. This residency fostered a fruitful and expansive collaboration between the musicians that continues today.

Curator at Reginald F. Lewis Museum

In 2013, Shodekeh acted as a music researcher and curator for the exhibit For Whom It Stands at the Smithsonian-affiliated  Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture  in Baltimore.

Salzburg Global Seminar

In 2015, Shodekeh participated in the  Salzburg Global Seminar   The Neuroscience of Art  conference in Salzburg, Austria. There, he and neurotologist Dr. Charles Limb, discussed their partnership to discover and highlight the muscles and internal movements beatboxers use when they perform.

OneBeat Records

In 2018 Shodekeh brought his connection with the Voyager spacecraft to bear on his art, when he was invited to participate as a musical ambassador, performer, and composer for the  One Beat  music program. Here he helped re-imagine the The Golden Record from the NASA Voyager 1 and 2 missions.

Innovator-in-Residence at Towson U

In 2019, Shodekeh returned to Towson University, where he was invited to be the first Innovator-in-Residence for the  College of Fine Arts and Communication. 

Annapolis Symphony Orchestra

In 2020, Shodekeh was asked to compose original music for the  Annapolis Symphony Orchestra's  Annapolis Symphony Academy and the world renowned percussion ensemble  So Percussion. 

Princeton University

On September 18, 2021 Shodekeh performed as a guest with So Percussion at Princeton University's  Richardson Auditorium .

Carnegie Hall

On December 11, 2021, Shodekeh performed with Sō Percussion at  Carnegie Hall  in New York, along with musicians Nathalie Joachim, Caroline Shaw, and Jason Treuting.