“Four-Hands, One Piano”, Duo Mundi George and Guli Live in Belize
They have been pushing the boundaries of piano music across the globe. And, this week, Belizean students from the Stann Creek and Belize districts were given the opportunity to hear them live. Duo Mundi George and Guli is in Belize. The world renowned piano duo took time out of their busy schedules as music professors in Maine to visit the country where George’s parents were born and raised, and where he spent several years in school as a child. On Saturday night, the couple will be hosting a musical concert at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts entitled, “Four Hands, One Piano”. News Five’s Paul Lopez stopped by the Bliss today to find out more.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
World-renowned concert pianists, Duo Mundi George and Guli have been travelling across Belize over the last few days, performing before audiences of primary school students. Today, the duo stopped in at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts to give these students a firsthand experience of their innovative style of playing.
Gulimina Mahamuti
Gulimina Mahamuti, Concert Pianist
“We live in Brunswick, Maine. We teach at Bowdoin College where George has been an artist resident and piano professor and symphony orchestra director and conductor at Bowdoin College.”
George Lopez
George Lopez, Concert Pianist
“And about six years ago I got an email from Guli who had just moved from Ohio to Maine and we met eventually for lunch and really hit it off and started to play piano together.”
After teaming up, George and Guli’s relationship grew stronger. They entered a committed relationship and decided to establish Duo Mundi George and Guli in 2018. The pair has been invited to perform and give piano master classes across the world. They premiered their four-hand arrangement at an international conference in Portugal, and today this mastery was on full display.
Gina Scott
Gina Scott, Director, The Belize School of Music
“To experience live music, to feel the vibrations, the energy and to see them. They have been described as a duo breathing the same musical air. And so, when you see them perform it is so electrifying, but not only that, the range of sounds. You ask anyone, what you think of when you think about piano music, and there might be some very consistent answers. But they have pushed those boundaries.”
Gina Scott, the Director of The Belize School of Music, requested of the duo that they perform during their trip to Belize. George’s parents are from the Stann Creek District. He spent several years attending classes at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic School in Dangriga, before he and his family left Belize. This is his first time back since 1975.
Gulimina Mahamuti
“George’s music always touched me, because when I moved to Maine I don’t know a lot of musicians. So it was George that has this personality, very open and very welcoming and friendly.”
George Lopez
“Like a proper Belizean nuh. We perform all over the world, but we are here in Belize really as a return to home for me. My parents was born here in Dangriga. I haven’t been back since 1975. It is really exciting to be back. It is Guli’s first time and she recently came from,…”
Gulimina Mahamuti
“North Western part of China.”
Duo Mundi George and Guli will be hosting a master class for music students on Saturday morning at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts. Renowned piano technician, Christopher Fuchs has joined the duo on their Belize trip. He engages students in the operational aspects of a modern piano. Duo Mundi George and Guli will also be hosting a concert, at the Bliss, on Saturday night.
Gina Scott
“Everything ends with their public performance tomorrow night at seven p.m. here at the bliss.”
Paul Lopez
“Is there a cover charge for that event?”
Gina Scott,
“Twenty dollars for adults and ten dollars for children.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
