This Weekend at The Buttonwood Tree

An Evening with the Samadi-Keene Duo

December 13 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm $15 General Admission $8 for Students

The Samadi-Keene Duo return to the Buttonwood Tree to present an exciting program of music written specifically for the classical guitar, mandolin, and piano. Come listen to the music of Classical Vienna, 20th century fantasias, as well as works by living composers!
Kristin Samadi, piano – Dan Keene, guitar & mandolin

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Dylan Thomas’ “A Child’s Christmas in Wales”

December 14 @ 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Performed live by Peter Loffredo accompanied by John Cappaletti on piano.

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Samadi-Keene Duo

Based in Brooklyn, NY, the Samadi-Keene Duo was founded in early 2013 by Kristin Samadi (piano, organ, harpsichord) and Dan Keene (guitar, lute, mandolin). Specializing in music written specifically for keyboards and plucked string instruments, the duo has performed works by Vivaldi, Beethoven, Weber, Hummel, Giuliani, Carulli, Diabelli, Haug, Ponce, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, and other stellar composers. In addition, the duo has worked with composers David Mitchell, Saman Samadi, William Wheeler, and Sidney Boquiren, and often curates concerts with Musical Amoeba.

Performing at a variety of venues in New York and along the East Coast, the Samadi-Keene Duo has concertized at Shapeshifter Lab, Adelphi University, Great Neck Arts Center, Studios 353, Amarachi Lounge, Shelter Studios, The Buttonwood Tree, Rutherford Congregational Church, and other venues. Most recently, the duo founded the Enceladus Ensemble, a chamber music group set to debut in 2015.

Kristin Samadi, piano 

Kristin Samadi is a pianist based in NYC. She is currently on the faculty at Adelphi University as well as the Director of Music and Organist at Rutherford Congregational Church in NJ. Mrs. Samadi received her B.S. in Piano Performance at Adelphi University in the spring of 2006. She graduated cum laude and was the 2006 recipient of the James Gould award for Excellence in Music. Mrs. Samadi completed her Masters Degree in 2008 at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College (CUNY). She also pursued the newly inaugurated Artist Diploma in Chamber Music at the same institution in 2009.

Mrs Samadi has performed locally as well as internationally giving solo and chamber recitals in Sarola & Lucca, Italy; Hong Kong, China; Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Haiti, Weil Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, NYC amongst other places. Over the years, Kristin has worked with world renowned Flutist Linda Wetherill in concert and has accompanied her flute students for various master classes. She has had the honor of performing world premieres of new music written by laureates of the Counterpoint Italy composition competition annually. Mrs. Samadi is a founding member of the Enceladus Ensemble and performs often in a duet setting with guitarist Dan Keene.”

Dan Keene, guitar & mandolin 

Born and raised in Long Island, NY, Dan Keene began studying guitar at the age of nine. He attended both Nassau Community College and Adelphi University, graduating summa cum laude with a B.S. in Classical Guitar Performance. Dan studied with Bill Zito on lute and guitar, Stephen Leonard and Jerry Willard on guitar, voice with Jonathan Goodman, composition with Sidney Boquiren, and is self-taught on the mandolin and electric bass.

An active and versatile performer, Dan has concertized extensively as a soloist and chamber musician along the East Coast and has premiered many new works. He is a founding member of the Enceladus Ensemble, gives frequent duo recitals with pianist Kristin Samadi, and performs often with Musical Amoeba. No stranger to musical theater, Dan has performed in productions of “Bat Boy,” “Into the Woods,” “Urinetown,” “Big,” Leonard Bernstein’s “Mass,” as well as the first post-Broadway production of “Rent.” Dan is currently on the faculty at Nassau Community College where he teaches music theory, beginning guitar, and song writing.

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                         A Child's Christmas In Wales

Connecticut Heritage Productions (CHP) is proud to present Dylan Thomas’ holiday classic A Child’s Christmas in Wales. Peter Loffredo brings to life these sometimes amusing, sometimes touching memories of childhood in the early 1900s. Holiday music adds to the nostalgia with songs of the season.

This series of warm childhood remembrances not only reflects the Victorian era in Wales, but speaks to the magic of holidays, to the eternal joys of family and friends, and to the human condition in all times. Dylan’s masterful poetic prose as well as his gorgeous use of the English language makes this a holiday show for the whole family. The performance is suitable for all adults and for children old enough to sit through a live performance.

For more, visit our event page