COMPASS Concert Program - COMPASS is a free, live, online music series hosted on Zoom.

Kristin Barone-Samadi (Born 1984), a mother of two, pianist and teacher, currently serves on the music faculty at Adelphi University and is the senior choir director and organist at St. Joseph's Episcopal Church in New York. Kristin received her BA in Performance in 2006 from Adelphi. Graduating cum laude, she was the recipient of the James Gould Award for Excellence in Music. While at Adelphi, Kristin was among the featured performers at the college’s chamber music ensemble—playing at graduation recitals, choral performances, and opera workshops. Kristin received her Master's Degree in 2008 at the Aaron Copland School of Music. She continued her studies in the “Artist Diploma Program” (2009), a program for the advanced study of chamber music. Kristin has performed internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. Participating in a series of master-classes overseen by cellist Kalin Ivanov and pianist Tamara Puddabnaya, Kristin then joined them in travels through Eastern Europe resulting in a final signature concert in Plovdiv, Bulgaria in 2008.

Kristin performed with the Adelphi Symphony Orchestra from 2005 to 2008 where she was a featured soloist. She also serves as a substitute organist and music director at various churches in the metropolitan area. She has also studied the pipe organ with David Enlow of Juilliard, Peggo Hsiao of First Presbyterian Church and David Smith (RIP) of Christ First Presbyterian Church.

In collaboration with flutist, Linda Wetherill, Kristin has unveiled new works by contemporary composers, recording and performing them at the “Counterpoint Italy Composition Competition”—an international music festival founded by Ms. Wetherill in 2007. Kristin was the staff accompanist of the Young People's Chorus of NYC in 2011. Having a deep enthusiasm for the music of the Renaissance, Kristin became a keen collaborator with guitarist/lutenist, Daniel Keene—the two of them perform regularly as the Samadi-Keene Duo (formerly, The Barone-Keene Duo).

Kristin and her husband Saman Samadi have created their own international composition competition known simply as “Samadis'.” This festival concluded with a successful winners' concert in March of 2016 and published as a record album. The two also operate a record label known as “Samadis'.”

Kristin enjoys a successful teaching career—she has been a faculty member of the Brooklyn Music House, The Piano School of NYC, Long Beach Music, Oceanside Music, and Adelphi University—she also manages her own private studio. Currently teaching as an adjunct professor at Adelphi University, Kristin teaches courses, there, in Basic Keyboard Skills as well as Form and Analysis. Kristin is a strong advocate of the training programs of Madeline Bruser (author of “The Art of Practicing”), applying this method in her teaching philosophy—having discovered its utility and value as a faculty member during the Sound of Manhattan Music Festival 2018—while teaching several masterclasses and judging the competition there—Kristin saw tangible results in this method and uses it today.

The apple of her eye these days is an ensemble with two other musicians, "Trio de Reínas": they are Kristin (keyboard instruments), Blanca Cecilia-Gonzalez (violin), and Asuka Elias (clarinet). They are a proud Mommies' collective, towing instruments, strollers, and children to their rehearsals.

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Jory Debenham

Dr. Jory Debenham is a musicologist, musician, and educator who works on questions of musical meaning and interpretation. She is also very interested in personal development and performance psychology, incorporating mindfulness and movement analysis in her teaching and performing.

Currently based in Birmingham, UK, Jory’s research focuses on music composed in the Nazi camp of Terezín, where musicians used their music to bolster the spirits of their fellow inmates and express their own feelings of grief and loss, as well as to document their experiences within the camps. She has presented at more than twenty conferences throughout North America and Europe and has presented her work in lecture-recitals, in print, and in online and radio formats. A monograph about the final musical compositions of four composers from Terezín is forthcoming with Indiana University Press

In addition to her academic pursuits, Jory teaches private music students, presents on performance issues for adult learners, and is a practical examiner with the Royal Conservatory of Music (Canada). Jory is originally from Calgary, Alberta and she holds a BMus from the University of Calgary, an MMus from the University of Alberta, and a PhD from Lancaster University.

Brad Denton

With an early sense of wonder, Brad started piano at the age of 7 and took one year of lessons. Although an abiding love for music continued, formal study did not resume until the last year of high school. It was, however, in University that some talent emerged and quick progression resulted in a deep and enduring love of Classical music. An injury and life circumstances prevented further study and he gave up pursuing further music studies. However, the spark never died. Wanting to complete a formal education in music, Brad returned to music study as an adult completing Level 10 requirements and Pedagogical courses through the Royal Conservatory of Music. Current goals include completing an ARCT diploma and securing a teaching position. Other interests include chess, language study and furthering and expanding his musical education with this year being the year of opera. He is excited and nervous for his first public performance in almost 2 years!

Nancy Good

Nancy has been playing clarinet for over 20 years and was also in a touring band (folk/classical/light rock) singing main vocals. Since 2012, her clarinet focus has been with tango orchestras and trios. She is a psychotherapist, working internationally in trauma healing and resilience, mother of 3 children and 2 grandchildren.

Nancy performs with Isabelle Haulin and other musicians who live close to Portland Oregon. They met through tango dancing, and have been playing tango music together for about 2 years. They particularly like playing for dancers, at local public events and small house parties.

Isabelle Haulin

Isabelle has been playing piano as a hobby since childhood, mostly classical music, until around 2016 when she decided to focus on tango music. She is a software engineer currently working for Nike, and mother of an 18 year old boy.

Isabelle performs with Nancy Good and other musicians who live close to Portland Oregon. They met through tango dancing, and have been playing tango music together since 2018. They have played for dancers and at house parties.

Mari Hwang

American pianist Mari Hwang believes in creating a safe world where people are inspired to live wholeheartedly. As co-founder of The COMPASS Concerts (Community Online Meditation Performance and Salon Series), she and her partners, Shinichiro Inaji and Louis Yungling, have established a welcoming, safe environment for music performance where people from all over the world feel a sense of community, support, and healing.

Ms. Hwang’s earlier experiences and challenges with stage fright for solo performances have guided her to share mindfulness awareness practice, easing psychological and physical tension, and connecting heart to music. She has performed in a variety of venues, in concert halls such as Carnegie Hall, DiMenna Center for Classical Music, Merkin Hall, and in cathedrals, hospitals, libraries, music schools, and private residences.

Her programming has frequently shined light on works by unknown, undervalued, minor works of well known composers, and women composers. Her embodiment of often deeply personal storytelling has resonated profoundly with audiences and led to open and courageous dialogues.

With her exceptional sight-reading ability, Ms.Hwang has been able to serve as a collaborative pianist for community music schools, conservatories, and summer programs. She has played for numerous admissions entrance auditions, competitions, graded exams, juries, lessons, recitals, recordings, and many more to help musicians achieve their dreams.

She has a private teaching studio in NYC where she’s constantly learning from her students who deeply enjoy music, are curious and open to explore, and independent thinkers.

Ms. Hwang has moved from a sunny suburb of Los Angeles, CA, to attend Manhattan School of Music in NYC, where she has received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance. Subsequently, she has received a Master’s in Music from Mannes School of Music and a minor in Impact Entrepreneurship from The New School.

She lives in New York City and enjoys walking, trying out different modes of transportation (airplanes, funiculars, ferries, gondolas, trains, trams, etc), and planning and organizing.

Having had many of her past dreams come true in recent years, with tremendous gratitude she has semi-retired from active performing and on her way to the next new dreams.

Janet Norman

Dr. Janet Norman, originally from Cleveland, Ohio, received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Arizona State University in 2009 and has dedicated her life to teaching and performing. She has actively participated in and directed professional piano pedagogy events, master classes and conferences, including chairing the Arizona State Music Teachers Association conference in June of 2004 and 2007. Her performances include solo recitals in Chile, Italy, New York, Ohio, and Arizona. Honors for her performances include third place in the Klatzkin Piano Competition, the 1999 inaugural ASU Contemporary Music Society Competition for performers, a two-time winner of the Three Arts Club of Lakewood, OH in 1987 and 1988, and the 1986 Baldwin-Wallace College/Conservatory Concerto Competition. She is also a nationally certified member of MTNA (Music Teachers National Association).

Ruby Norman

Ruby was born in April of 2003 in Scottsdale, AZ and grew up in Tempe, AZ. From the time she was 4, she started formal music lessons, first on violin and then, at age 5, on piano. She has always loved music and was exposed to various genres since she was very young.

At age 7, Ruby was Mesa Metropolitan Youth Symphony (MYS) and made it into Division 4. Throughout the years, she practiced diligently, participating not only in MYS, but also receiving high ratings for violin from ASTACAP, winning concert master for Tempe Middle Schools Honor Orchestra two years in a row, participating every summer in Quartet Camps, and participating in her school orchestras from fifth grade through senior year at McClintock High School. She worked her way through all Divisions of MYS to Violin 1 in Division 1, and graduated from that orchestra in ninth grade. She has been an active participant in the Youth Symphony of the Southwest (YSSW) for 3 years and is in Violin 1. In addition to her participation with MYS Division 1, Ruby was an eager participant in the MYS Fiddlers group for two years. This group traveled to various Community Events, performing Fiddler Music that is completely memorized and requires flexibility and a high level of musicianship and ensemble skill. She is also a dedicated member of the Chamber Orchestra at McClintock Orchestra and has participated in the Arizona State Regional Festival Orchestra for 3 years. With Connolly Middle School Orchestra, she traveled to Disneyland and performed with her classmates in Disney Recording Studios. She also recently toured throughout L.A. with McClintock High School Orchestra and had an opportunity to solo on one of the pieces.

On piano, Ruby is also fairly accomplished, performing as needed as an accompanist with her High School Orchestra and in the school jazz band on piano. She was also the only freshman in her High School to accompany seniors on their instrumental music in their Senior Recitals. She has participated in several community events, including ASP (Arizona Study Program) through ASMTA and ensemble festivals. In May of 2018, she won the Janeen Noble Outstanding Musician award through Desert Valley Music Teachers Association.

In addition to violin and piano, Ruby loves to sing and dance. She had dance lessons from age 3 to 7 and performed in a few community events through the dance group. She has also participated in various Music Theater classes and events such as Childsplay and Seton Summer Music Theater. Last year, she was a volunteer assistant for Seton’s Music theater classes, since she has participated in their events as a singer, actor and dancer for 6 years.

Overall, Ruby loves music and it will forever be an intrinsic part of her life and personality. She hopes to be a Veterinarian in the future but expects to have music in her life wherever she goes.

Paul Walker

Paul Walker is an amateur musician and composer who has been studying piano and other instruments most of his life. As well as playing piano, guitar, and more with family and friends, he composes a variety of music which you can find at SoundCloud. Paul is also active in the open source music software community, maintaining several large open source music software packages, He spends some of his musical time at the intersection of software, synthesis, and composition.

Louis Yungling

Hello, my name is Louis Yungling and I'm a co-founder of COMPASS Concerts. I'm also a pianist and piano teacher.

Meditation, mindfulness and awareness exercises are an integral part of my teaching and practice. Musicians benefit greatly from these practices by being able to fine tune their focus and get more out of their practice as well as increase their responsiveness to sound and be more present and confident in performance.

I created COMPASS concerts to extend these practices to audiences and give everyone a moment to pause and go inward. We do this by sharing a brief contemplation exercise before every concert. In this way we practice being aware of one another and give ourselves a chance to feel and appreciate our unique contribution.

Preparing our minds and bodies to receive and make music allows us to be more receptive to the beauty and generosity that goes into a musical performance. And practicing this type of mindful preparation regularly can help us open our hearts more to the experiences of our day to day lives.

I am thrilled to share this journey with you and the very talented, generous artists who perform here. Thank you to all my musician friends for sharing your gifts and creating beautiful programs of music for our COMPASS community. And thank you to all who come and partake in these heart-warming community concerts.

I currently live and teach piano in Valencia, Spain. My teaching website: Yungling Piano Studio.