Across the globe, Dr. Gulimina Mahamuti has dazzled viewers with her ability to “tickle the ivories,” so to speak. And this Sunday, Nov. 2, community members will have the opportunity to see her perform alongside Dr. Frank Chiou for a piano duet at First Congregational Church in Mansfield at 3 p.m.
The free concert will feature Antonin Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances, Opuses 46 and 72.
“Electrifying is not too strong a word to describe the experience of Gulimina and Frank’s concert performances,” stated Bill Waldron, Chair of the Music and Fine Arts Committee at First Congregational Church. “We invite everyone into our lovely sanctuary to share the utter brilliance with which these extraordinary musicians animate their work.”
He added, “The mastery of these musicians is a wonder to see and hear. It’s almost as if, in their technique, they defy the principles of physics.”
A Mansfield resident, Mahamuti, 36, said she is looking forward to the upcoming concert, noting that the duet aspect of the performance can be especially entertaining for viewers. She further mentioned that she anticipates seeing many familiar faces at the church.
She explained that when she moved to Mansfield in 2006 with her husband Dr. Dung Ba Nguyen, First Congregational Church allowed her to use the church’s piano so she could practice. “I just always felt a sense of gratitude for their help,” she said.
And since that time, Mahamuti has maintained a relationship with First Congregational Church and performs there at least once a year, she said.
In addition to First Congregational Church, Mahamuti has performed at various venues across the globe, including the prestigious Carnegie Hall. “That was a very great honor,” she said. “When I was a little girl, I heard about Carnegie Hall and that it was such a renowned place, and I just never would imagine someday I would perform there.”
She hopes to return to Carnegie Hall in 2016 to perform a musical piece that honors the famous composer, Enrique Granados. The year 2016 marks the centennial celebration of his death, she informed.
Throughout her musical career, she has participated in 200-300 performances, she said. In addition to performing, she juggles teaching, presenting, and researching. She teaches part-time as an Assistant Professor of Piano at Ohio Wesleyan University and she offers lessons at her own piano studio in Mansfield.
She also serves as the chairperson of the Richland County Chapter of Ohio Music Teachers Association (OhioMTA), a member on the board of the Central East District of OhioMTA, a board member of the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs (OFMC), and the chairperson of the Student/Collegiate Auditions Award for the state of Ohio.
Over the years, Mahamuti has earned several awards and honors. To name a few, she was the winner of 2006 KMTA Collegiate State Artist Piano Competition/Graduate Division and won top prizes at The Second National Solo Instrument Competition in Beijing, Gansu Province Piano Competition (China), and The Second Collegiate Level Solo Instrument Competition in Jilin Province (China). She was also the recipient of UMKC Women’s Committee Esta I. (Peggy) Dix scholarship and the Lorraine Watson Scholarship. Further, her achievements were recognized by the Ohio House of Representatives and by the Celebration of Scholarships at Ohio Wesleyan University on multiple occasions.
Her excellence in teaching has also been recognized, having been named “Excellent Piano Teacher” many times. Even her students have gone on to earn prestigious awards and scholarships.
She noted that one of her proudest moments throughout her professional career was earning a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from University of Missouri-Kansas City.
A native of Karamay City in Xinjiang, western China, Mahamuti, commented, “That was always my goal ever since I was a little girl. In China, there is not a doctorate in degree in performance, so to pursue to a doctorate degree in a foreign country, not to mention the United States, was just a dream.”
She credited her husband for helping her achieve this goal in just three years. “In our profession, usually it takes on average five years to finish, but I have to say that because of my husband’s encouragement and support, I could do that,” she said.
Even with twins on the way, Mahamuti said she hopes to continue performing. She said she enjoys receiving feedback from the audience and commented, “I can’t stop performing. It’s part of my life.”
“Electrifying is not too strong a word to describe the experience of Gulimina and Frank’s concert performances,” stated Bill Waldron of First Congregational Church. “We invite everyone into our lovely sanctuary to share the utter brilliance with which these extraordinary musicians animate their work.”
