New York native Daniel Keene performs on an array of historic and modern plucked string instruments including the Renaissance lute, bandora, vihuela, baroque guitar, nineteenth century guitar, modern guitar, and extended electric guitars. He has concertized extensively as a soloist, consort player, chamber player, and pit orchestra musician in New York and throughout the United States.
Current projects include French violin and guitar duets with violinist Lisa Casal-Galietta as the Moka Pot Duo, the lute songs of John Dowland with tenor Drew Ivarson as the Poore Astronomers, lute and vihuela duets with lutenist Kenneth Bé, and newly composed duets for 8-string electric guitar and piano with pianist Dr. Fang-Yi Chu. Daniel is the guitarist for The Red Door Chamber Players, The Samadi-Keene Piano & Guitar Duo, and Dream of the Archer (Heart tribute). He has performed with Long Island Baroque Ensemble, The Bacheler Consort, New York Continuo Collective, The Golden Williams Duo, and many others.
Daniel was the lutenist, guitarist, and arranger for New Place Player’s 2023 Off-Broadway production of William Shakespeare’s Othello which received critical praise. Musical theater productions include Into the Woods, Bat Boy, Big, Urinetown, and Rent.
Daniel studied with Xavier Díaz-Latorre, Jerry Willard, William Zito, and Stephen Leonard. He attended SUNY Stony Brook University, Adelphi University, and SUNY Nassau Community College. Daniel is currently on the faculty at SUNY Nassau Community College and Great Neck Conservatory.
"Daniel Keene is a guitarist and lutenist of exceptional ability, combining a comprehensive technique and scholarship with an innate musicality."
Jerry Willard, guitarist & lutenist