COMPASS Concert: Welcome to the Program: Community Online Meditation Performance and Salon Series, An online Zoom concert presenting live music programming.

Laura Amoriello is a pianist, pedagogy specialist, and meditation instructor. She was a college professor for 18 years and now finds joy in helping students make music mindfully.

Laura teaches with a holistic approach, emphasizing the mind-body connection and collaborating with students on problem-solving and goal-setting. She incorporates mindfulness practices into the lesson to help students ease their movement, calm their thoughts, and focus their minds. At the core of her teaching is collaboration with students, as setting authentic goals is a key to unlocking expressive joy.

Laura has directed teaching studios in three states, where she has taught students ages 3 to 76 privately and in groups. Her students have been admitted to the Eastman School of Music and Berklee College of Music. Laura has served on the faculties of Ithaca College, Westminster Choir College, and The College of New Jersey. She chairs the Wellness Committee for the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy and is an Associate Teacher of the Art of Practicing Institute, where she works closely with Madeline Bruser. Laura has a keen interest in teaching and performing works by new composers, including Higdon, Suesse, and Wallen. She is a MNDFL Certified Meditation Instructor.

Laura holds a Doctor of Education degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, and Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in piano performance and pedagogy from Penn State University and Westminster Choir College. She lives in Ithaca, NY with her husband, writer Pete Croatto, and their spirited kindergartener, Olivia.

Visit Laura's teaching website here: www.lauraamoriello.com

Pascual Araujo

Pascual Araujo is a classical guitarist/arranger hailing from Barranquilla, Colombia based in Queens, NY. He is a champion of the Latin America/Iberian guitar repertoire and art song. His vision is to bring to light the wonderful music of Latin American/Iberian composers that has been obscured over time. In addition to playing Latin American/Iberian guitar music Pascual is an advocate of the experimental/new music genre, having premiered works from modern composers that push the boundaries of harmony and structure. Pascual has performed in renowned music halls such as Weill Hall, Stanley H. Kaplan penthouse at Lincoln Center and Gilder Lehrman Hall at the Morgan Library museum.

Pascual received his Bachelors degree in music education January 2020 from the Aaron Copland School of Music at CUNY Queens College and teaches full time at Cadenza Music Center located in Bayside, Queens. He currently studies with renowned new music composer and classical guitarist William Anderson.

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Instagram: pascual.araujo

Kristin Barone-Samadi

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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www.kristinsamadi.net
www.pajacademy.org

Molly Clementz

Molly Clementz is a mezzo-soprano who made her debut with Pacific Opera Project in the LA Times’ acclaimed La Gazzetta as Doralice. Opera Today stated, “Ms. Clementz has a wonderfully rich tone, gleaming top notes, and a vibrant lower register,” and Schmopra described her as a “mezzo to be reckoned with.” During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Molly was Opera Santa Barbara’s featured Mosher Studio Artist, performing Mercédès in Carmen, Lapák, and Datel in Janácek's The Cunning Little Vixen, and La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi. During her time at OSB, she also covered the lead roles of Carmen, Fox Goldenstripe (The Cunning Little Vixen), and Lisette (La Rondine). In 2016, she competed with two roles in the Dominick Argento Chamber Opera Competition at the NOA Convention. A finalist in the AIMS’ Meistersinger Competition (Graz, Austria), she has sung performances in Austria, Germany, Italy, and Hungary. Pairing her petite figure, zwischen register, and powerful voice, Molly excels in versatility and presenting youthful characters. To that end, she performed the title role of University of North Texas’ 2013 production of Massenet’s Cendrillon. Molly currently studies with Dr. Linda Di Fiore at DePaul University, working toward an artist certificate.

In addition to the classical repertoire, Molly enjoys contemporary music and has received acclaim for the ease at which she learns it. In 2016, she competed with two roles in the Dominick Argento Chamber Opera Competition at the National Opera Association Convention in Santa Barbara. In the 2015 West Coast Premiere of Joel Feigin’s award-winning Twelfth Night, she performed the lead role of Viola. She has been a featured soloist with the Santa Ynez Valley Master Chorale and the UCSB Wind Ensemble. In 2018, she was the recipient of the College of Creative Studies Musical TV Project, in which an entirely new production was written and produce for her. This project culminated in a live performance and recording for television. Her doctoral work and dissertation focus on the gendering of pants roles in opera. She received degrees in both Vocal Performance and English Composition at Luther College. In addition to her Mosher Artist training with Opera Santa Barbara, Molly has trained abroad in Germany, Italy, and Austria. In 2014 she was a Finalist in the American Institute of Musical Studies’ Meistersinger Competition in Graz, Austria.

For more information, please visit mollyclementz.com.

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.

Alexandria Jackson

Alexandria Jackson is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance at Southern Methodist University (SMU), under the tutelage of Dr. Barbara Hill-Moore. Before her arrival at SMU, Jackson appeared in several UC Santa Barbara Opera Theatre productions, including W.A. Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro and the North American premiere of Franz Lehár’s The Mock Marriage. Jackson also competed in numerous competitions, winning first place in the New Century Singer - California and Whittier New Century Singers competitions; second place in the National Association of Negro Musicians - Regional Competition and Mu Phi Epsilon Competition; third place in the National Liszt Competition; and fourth place in the National Association of Teachers of Singers (NATS) Regional Competition. She also received honorable mention in the Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation Competition and has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship by the American Institute of Musical Studies.

Alexandria looks forward to continuing her career at SMU, in order to hone her craft and thus becoming a better artist.

David Murray

David is an aspiring brass musician and performer from Batavia, IL. He earned his B.A. in Trumpet Performance from Northern Illinois University where he studied with professors John Fairfield and Mark Ponzo. His other teachers include Mike Brozick (Elgin Symphony), Kirk Lundbeck (Kishwaukee Symphony, Dekalb Municipal Band), and more recently Stephen Burns (Depaul University, Fulcrum Point New Music Project) and Kirk Ferguson (Milwaukee Symphony).

David is currently 3rd trumpet with the Kishwaukee Symphony, 1st trumpet of the Dekalb Municipal Band, and regularly substitutes with the Kishwaukee Brass Quintet and the Lakeview Orchestra in Chicago. In addition, he is also a founding member of the Molten Brass, a newly formed brass quintet based out of Westmont, IL.

In his spare time David works as a brass repair technician at PM Music Center in Aurora, IL.

Jonathan Stuchbery

Jonathan is an artist engaged in inspiring and educating audiences as diverse as his musical interests. A specialist in period instruments of the lute and guitar family, and with a background also in classical and electric guitar, his performances offer "exciting and technically brilliant" (Marvin Dickau) displays of the wealth of the musical language.

as a soloist, chamber musician and continuo player, Jonathan frequently distinguishes himself across Canada, the United States, and Europe. He is active in the rich early music scene in Eastern Canada, and can be seen performing music on period instruments, solo and with ensembles such as Les Méandres (Montréal), Theatre of Early Music, Aureas Voces (Halifax), and Cor Unum Ensemble (Toronto). He recently completed a solo tour of British Columbia for Living Room Live, and has been programmed in international festivals such as Espurnes Barroques in Catalunya.

He is a founding member of the Cygnus trio (flute, violin, guitar), whos debut album 'Amalgam' was released in December 2018, and features new works and arrangements written specifically for them.

He also has extensive experience in contemporary classical music, having premiered and performed large-scale works on classical, and electric guitar in series such as Live@CIRMMT and Montréal/Nouvel Musique. He is now working on a program of new music for the theorbo, combining his passion for both early and contemporary music.

He is currently finishing a masters degree in performance of Early Music in Barcelona at the Escola Superior de Musica de Catalunya in the studio of Xavier Diaz-Latorre. Jonathan holds bachelor of music with a double major in guitar and lute performance at McGill’s Schulich School of Music, where he was recognized for outstanding achievement in lute.

www.jonathanstuchbery.com
www.thecygnustrio.com

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.