Kristin Samadi

Kristin Samadi (born 1984) is a pianist based in NYC. She is currently on the faculty at Adelphi University as well as the Music Director at St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Samadi received her Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance from Adelphi University in the Spring of 2006 under the tutelage of Adrienne Borbely. She graduated cum laude and was the recipient of the James Gould award for Excellence in Music. At Adelphi, Samadi was a featured accompanist for the chamber music ensemble, graduation recitals, choral performances, as well as opera workshops. During the Spring of 2005, Samadi took part in master classes and performances organized by cellist Kalin Ivanov and pianist Tamara Puddabnaya in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. During 2006 to 2008, Samadi studied cello and was a member of Adelphi’s Orchestra. In December 2005, she was featured as a soloist at the Weil Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in December 2005.

Samadi completed her Masters Degree (2008) at The Aaron Copland School of Music under the tutelage of Morey Ritt. Continuing her studies, she completed the newly inaugurated Artist Diploma program (2009) at ACSM, Queens College, CUNY. This Artist Diploma was specifically devoted to studying Four Hand repertoire on one piano as well as two pianos.

In addition, Samadi has also performed internationally as both a soloist and chamber musician, giving performances in Sarola & Lucca, Italy; Hong Kong, China; Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Haiti, various venues in New York City amongst other places. Some highlights of Samadi’s career include performances of Frank’s Symphonic Variations as an alumna at Adelphi, Rachmaninoff’s Suite No. 2 for Two Pianos, and the Bartok Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion.

In addition to her performance career, Samadi also has served as a substitute organist and Music Director at various churches in the tri-state area. She served as the Director of Music at Rutherford Congregational Church from 2010-2015. Samadi has also studied organ briefly with David Enlow during 2012 (faculty member of the Juilliard School) and Peggo Hsiao (organist at First Presbyterian Church, Rutherford, NJ). She has also studied organ under the late David Smith at Christ First Presbyterian Church in 2008.

Over the years, Samadi has also collaborated with flutist Linda Wetherill in concert. She has also served as an accompanist to her flute students during various master classes. Samadi has had the honor of performing annual world premieres of new music written by laureates of the Counterpoint Italy Composition Competition organized by Wetherill.

Samadi also enjoys a successful teaching career, having been a faculty member of Brooklyn Music House, The Piano School of NYC, Long Beach Music, Oceanside Music and has also managed her own teaching studio for the past 16 years. In the Fall of 2011, Samadi began teaching as an adjunct Professor at Adelphi University, teaching courses in piano as well as independent studies in form and analysis and private piano instruction. Additionally, she is has also served as a staff accompanist at the Young People’s Chorus of NYC, working for non-profit’s satellite programs.

Samadi has also been collaborating with guitarist Daniel Keene since 2009. The Samadi-Keene Duo (formerly The Barone-Keene Duo) performs regularly in the tri-state area.

In 2015 Samadi and her husband Saman Samadi co-founded an International Composition Competition and record company called Samadis’. They recently had a successful winners’ concert in March, 2016, and have published the recording on a digital album.

Last year Samadi also sought out training with Madeline Bruser (author of “The Art of Practicing”) and applies this methodology to her teaching philosophy. This summer, Mrs. Samadi will serve as one of the faculty members for Sound of Music Manhattan Festival in which she will teach master classes, take part in judging the competition, and perform in the faculty recital.