Simply beautiful and unique music gems…
Simply Beautiful Collection II
by Bill Binkelman/Zone Music Reporter
“It’s a bold move, to say the least, to title your album Simply Beautiful Collection, but pianist/composer Laima Gaizutis has the chops to back up that audaciousness, and with room to spare. Her talent at crafting melodies that are “simple” yet heartfelt and borne of obvious sincerity is apparent throughout the album’s eleven selections. In addition, her versatility, as she crisscrosses from one genre to another, always with an overriding discernible romantic influence, is equally impressive. New age, neo-classical, pop instrumental, even a hint of jazz—it’s all here. She has gathered a great cast of supporting players as well. Clearly, the woman knows what she is doing!”
Symphony North of Houston is delighted to introduce Laima Gaizutis as our foyer pianist for its concerts. Laima will perform her compositions before and during the intermission of Symphony North concerts in the foyer of Salem Lutheran Church. Our next concert is Sunday, April 21, 2024, at 4:00 PM at Salem Lutheran Church in Tomball, Texas. Admission to our concerts is by donation. At the performance, we will be accepting donations by cash and check, but you may also donate online.
The piano music you hear in the lobby before and during the intermission of Symphony North’s concerts is provided by Laima Gaizutis. Laima’s parents were refugees from Lithuania. They settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where her father’s sponsor found him a job as a baker and delivery man. The house they moved into had an old piano, which she began to play. By the age of six, she was studying with Andrius Kuprevicius at the Cleveland Music School Settlement. Laima was a quick study and made her local TV debut at 9 years old on a talent show. From there, her passion for and dedication to the piano blossomed. By the time she was a senior in high school, she was invited to be a piano teacher at the Settlement. After high school, she attended the Eastman School of Music, earning a Bachelor of Music degree. After college, Laima got married, moved to Houston, Texas, where she raised two boys and taught piano, which she continues to do so to this day.
In 1990, her husband gave her a digital piano as a Christmas present. This was the year the composer in her emerged. Since then, her compositions have awarded her with numerous local and national Billboard awards. Her instrumental melodies have been featured on television. She was featured in a production at the Little Reno Theater and was the composer and pianist for Stuart Ostrow’s musical theater workshop at the University of Houston’s School of Theater.
Her latest transition to recording artist happened in 2013. Each track of her Simply Beautiful Collection Volumes I and II have their own mood and instrumentation.
Laima looks to the future and is poised to show the world the musical magic which is within her artist’s soul!
Images by Sam Gainer