Performers

Ketevan Asatishvili (1987- )

She received her first piano lessons from her mother at the age of four. It didn't take long for her to succeed. At the age of eight, she became a first laureate, received the best assessment from the jury as a musician-artist, and a special prize at the international competition "Jeunes Pianistes" in France. In 1996, she again took part in the "Jeunes Pianistes" at the invitation of the jury and became the grand prix winner. Prizes and awards followed the first success in international competitions in Italy and Greece. In 2000, Ketevan Asatishvili was invited at the Moscow International Festival "Young Musicians Academy". In 2005, she entered the Tbilisi State Conservatory in the class of Svetlana Korsantia. In 2011, Ketevan Asatishvili was awarded the diploma of outstanding artist. The art of Asatishvili is full of natural music and expressive sound. Despite solo performances, she also holds evenings of chamber music. She currently lives in London and is the founder of British Georgian Music Academy - Ketevan Ward. She has three children, gives concerts twice a month, and is also involved in intensive teaching activities. 
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Inga Kashakashvili - classical pianist (1974 - )

She studied at Tbilisi V. Sarajishvili State Conservatoire (Georgia) and DePaul University (Chicago, IL). In 1991, she won a prize at the New Port International Competition for Young Pianists in Wales, UK. She appeared in the renowned Barbican Center in London as well as in Cardiff and Bristol. That same year, Ms Kashakashvili was invited to perform as a guest artist in Newport's Tredegar House. Inga Kashakashvili participated in the Leipzig Music Festival and toured in Germany in 2000. In 2001 she visited the United States for the first time and participated in the Flier International Piano Competition, where she won the Third Prize. At the same time, she was invited to perform at the Piano Summer Festival in New Paltz, NY. In 2003 she appeared as a guest artist at the United Sounds of America Festival, dedicated to the 9/11 tragedy. Her recitals were recorded and broadcast by Chicago Classical Radio WFMT. In 2008, she won the Artists International Debut Award and was presented at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall with a solo recital. Inga Kashakashvili lives in New York City. Inga Kashakashvili won the Artists International Debut Award and was presented at Carnegie Hall, New York (2008). She is a prizewinner of the Jacob Flier International Piano Competition, New Paltz, NY (2001), and Newport International Competition for Young Pianists, Wales, UK (1991). Based on individual accomplishments and contributions to society, Inga Kashakashvili was listed in the International Madison Who's Who (2006-2007). She received the Mannes College The New School for Music Scholarship Award in 2006; DePaul University Full Scholarship Award in 2003-2005; DePaul University Performance Award in 2003; and the Festival Piano Summer at New Paltz Award in 2001, among others.

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David Khrikuli (2001 - )

David Khrikuli graduated from Tbilisi 46 Public School and currently studies at the Queen Sofia School of Music in Madrid (Spain). He has won international competitions in Georgia, China, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Russia. In 2024, he won the first prize in the Cantù International Piano Orchestra Competition in Italy and first prize and the audience prize in the Vigo International Piano Competition (Spain). He gives solo recitals and plays with chamber orchestras. He has performed with the Georgian Philharmonic, Israel Camerata and Philharmonic, and Moscow Philharmonic. He is a finalist of the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition 2025. 
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Natalia Kutateladze (1992 - )

On the night of the final concert, the voice of Natalia Kutateladze (mezzo-soprano) and her artistry captivated both the jury and the audience in the International Singing Competition, celebrating Spanish tenor Francisco Viñas and held in Barcelona a few years ago. Natalia Kutateladze comes from a family of singers. She is Nani Bregvadze's (a very popular Georgian pop music singer) granddaughter and Eka Mamaladze's (also a popular music singer and pianist) daughter. After graduating from Zacharia Paliashvili Central Music School, known as the Ten-Year School for the Talented Children, and the Tbilisi State Conservatory, she continued her education at the Juilliard School in New York, where she would go on to perform the role of Fedra in Ippolito ed Aricia, an opera by Jean-Philippe Rameau. Then she established her musical career in Munich, performing several parts at the Bavarian State Opera, namely in the operas The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart, La Traviata by Verdi, Parsifal by Wagner, Lolita by Tchaikovsky, and Jenufa by Janacek. Natalia is a frequent participant in chamber music concerts, embodying the charm of such events - indeed, the assessment offered by Spaniards above is dead-on.
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Giorgi Latso - classical pianist (born Giorgi Latsabidze, 1978 -)

He is a classical pianist, composer, and doctor of musical arts. He has won piano competitions and received awards in many countries. His concerts have been broadcast on radio and television in Europe, Asia, and America. He has been an American citizen since 2012. Latso won prizes in the Yehudi Menuhin Federation Competition in Austria, the Young Artist International Piano Competition in Los Angeles, the Ennio Porrino International Competition in Italy, and the Rubinstein International Competition in France. He received the Vladimir Spivakov Award (Moscow virtuosi) in 2001, the Georgian Presidential Prize in 1999/2002, the German Marion Dönhoff Trust Award in 2002, DAAD the German Academic Exchange Award in 2004, the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Academic Achievement Recognition of Excellence Award in 2004, Herbert Batliner Trust Award in 2005, the USC Keyboard Studies Department Award in 2007 and 2011, the American philanthropist Carol Hogel Music Scholarship in 2008, H.S.H. Princess Marie Aglaë of Liechtenstein Award in 2009. In January 2013, Latso was honored as a Steinway Artist by Steinway & Sons in New York City. www.latsabidze.com 
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Tamriko Siprashvili - classical pianist (1963 -

Tamriko began piano studies at the age of 3. At age 5, she entered the Special Music School for gifted children in her home city of Tbilisi, Georgia. She graduated from the Moscow Conservatory in 1985. Tamriko is known for her romantic repertoire, especially that of Robert Schumann. She has recorded several albums for Nimbus Records, among them "Variations on a Theme by Chopin Opus 22, and Variations on a Theme by Corelli Opus 42, by Sergei Rachmaninoff. Currently, she lives in Pleasanton, California, USA.

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Irma Svanadze - classical pianist (1976 -)

Irma maintains an active performance schedule in both the US and Europe and is teaching in Eastern Europe, France, Belgium, and the United States. Initially trained in the Russian Piano Tradition, Irma continued her education in France at the Saint-Maur Conservatory, where in 2000 she was awarded two Gold Medals – in piano and chamber music.

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Ketevan Kartvelishvili - classical pianist (1980 -)

Ketevan Kartvelishvili gave her first performance with the Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra at the age of 13, performing Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto No.1, under the baton of Jansugh Kakhidze. During her studies at the Tbilisi Music School for Gifted Children, she performed the following piano concertos with orchestra: Grieg, Mozart No.27, and Liszt No.1. Ms. Kartvelishvili was awarded the Third Prize and a Laureate title in the 5th Marco Polo International Piano Competition held in Greece in 1999. Ms. Kartvelishvili joined the Toradze Piano Studio at Indiana University at South Bend to pursue an Artist Diploma in the fall of 2009. On February 27, 2010, she performed in a live broadcast of Sergei Rachmaninoff's piano works on WFMT in Chicago. In December 2010, she was awarded a Performer Certificate for her solo recital at which she performed Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 and Prokofiev's Sonata No. 7. On March 5, 2011, Ketevan Kartvelishvili won the First Prize at the William C. Byrd Young Artists International Piano Competition held in Flint, MI. The following year on March 3, 2012, she won First Prize at the 36th Young Artists Piano Concerto Competition in Kankakee, IL. On January 26, 2013, Kartvelishvili won the First Prize in the Indianapolis Matinee Musicale Scholarship Competition. On July 17, 2013, she won First Prize in the Jacob Flier International Piano Competition in New Paltz, NY. On January 28, 2012, she performed in "Whiting" Hall with the Flint Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Enrique Arturo Diemecke. The same year, Ms. Kartvelishvili performed in "New Chapel" Hall with the Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra in collaboration with conductor Allan Dennis. In May 2012, she performed Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in the Toradze Piano Studio concert with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Tsung Yeh. On July 26th, 2013, she performed Liszt's Concerto No. 1 with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, conducted by Vladimir Feltsman. http://ketevankartvelishvili.com 
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Khatia Buniatishvili - classical pianist (1987 -)

Khatia Buniatishvili was introduced to the piano at an early age by her mother, an enthusiastic music lover. She gave her first performance as a soloist with an orchestra at the age of six. Then she was invited to give performances in Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Russia, Israel, and the USA. In 2003 Khatia won a special prize at the Horowitz International Competition for Young Pianists in Kyiv as well as first prize at the Foundation to Assist Young Georgian Musicians competition set up by Elisabeth Leonskaya. Since 2003 she has studied at Vienna’s University of Music and Performing Arts. Winner of the Bronze Medal at the 12th Arthur Rubinstein Piano Master Competition in 2008, she was also distinguished as the Best Performer of a Chopin piece and as Audience Favourite. In 2011 Khatia Buniatishvili made her first recording with a Liszt recital on Sony Classical, followed by her first recording accompanied by orchestra for a Chopin album. Khatia Buniatishvili speaks five languages. www.khatiabuniatishvili.com

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Valerian (Vakuna) Shiukashvili - classical pianist (1975 -)

Pianist Valerian (Vakuna) Shiukashvili is a winner of several international competitions and festivals and the owner of ten grand prizes. The 30-year-old pianist lives alone in his house. His parents sometimes visit him from Moscow. Recently, his first video appeared, and it was a success. He played a part in Victor Dolidze's opera, "Keto da Kote”, called "Georgian Dance." Nino Lapiashvili, director of the video, said that Shiukashvili's style of playing is so fast and unusual that she had to think a lot about how to arrange the video. "I realised that something unusual should be done. I showed only his fingers and the keyboard. The goal for us was to show his dynamics while playing. It was done in general," said Lapiashvili. Transcribing the video was important, I think. People can see and hear me only at the concerts. Now I'm introduced to a wide audience," said Shiukashvili. Shiukashvili's favourite composers are Bach and Mozart. These two, and also Scarlatti and Chopin, were in his performance at a concert in the Tbilisi Conservatory on January 19, 2007. "It was a special concert for me. It was dedicated to Natlisgeba (Orthodox Christian holiday), and the great honour for me was that the Patriarch attended the concert," said Shiukashvili. He said his relationship with the Patriarch is very special. He was invited to the New Year's dinner at the Patriarch's apartment, with only those who were closest to the religious leader. Nino Khutsishvili, a college friend of Shiukashvili, emphasised his skills and ability to communicate: "As a professional, his technique of playing is excellent. What distinguished him from others is his unique sound. And as a friend, I can tell that he is always available for us; everybody loves his sense of humour. He has a lot of friends with different professions and mentalities. 
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Irma Gigani - classical pianist (1996 -)

Born in 1996 in Tbilisi. In 2001, she enrolled in Tbilisi Z. Paliashvili Central Music School. At this age, she played J.S. Bach's F-minor piano concerto. In 2002, she became a laureate and winner of the Grand Prize at the Minerbio International Competition in Italy. Then she participated in the marathon of "Gifted Children" at Liana Isakadze's International Art Festival. In 2003, at the 3rd Republican Competition of Musician-Performers, she was awarded a special prize by the Embassy of the USA in Georgia. Since 2003, she has participated in the festivals held by V. Spivakov Foundation. She is a scholar of V.Spivakov and the UNESCO International Fund. Ankara Symphony Orchestra in Ankara (Turkey), organised by V. Spivakov Fund, and her recital at Nice Opera Theatre ( France, organised by UNESCO. Since 2009 Irma has been studying at Tbilisi V. Sarajishvili Musical Seminary under Professor Tengiz Amirejibi. She issued her first CD with Israel Camerata (conductor Avner Biron). In 2010 she participated in F. Chopin Competition and won First Prize and a Special Award for the best performance of the Georgian composer's masterpiece. Irma is the 4th prize winner of the Aarhus International Piano Competition (Denmark) 2015.
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Elisso Bolkvadze - classical pianist (1967 -)

She performed her first concert with an orchestra at the age of seven. She is a winner of numerous international piano competitions, such as: Van Cliburn Competition (USA), Vianna da Motta (Lisbon), Axa International Piano Competition (Dublin), Marguerite Long Competition - special prize for the best interpretation of French music (Paris). Elisso Bolkvadze was awarded "The Medal of the Georgian Government” – one of the most prestigious national honours in her country of birth.

 
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Alissa (Alice) Tavdidishvili - classical pianist (1984 -)

Alice had tremendous success in Italy, the UK, Germany, and France. She transformed the greatness of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, and Schumann, and showed fantastic technique and talent. Now Alice studies at the PURCELL SCHOOL in the UK. October 1996, 71st International Piano Competition For Young Pianists, Rome. Italy - 3rd Prize. September 1998, 2nd International Music Competition Monterosa -Kawai -Varallo Sesia (VC), Italy - 2nd Prize. September 1998, VI International Music Competition Premio Vittoria Caffa Righetti, Italy- 1st Prize. April 2000, World Piano Competition, London, under the patronage of HRH Prince of Wales. "Alice is a very gifted pianist and deserves every assistance." (Paul Badura-Skoda) “Alice Tavdidishvili seems to be one of the most gifted young pianists. Professional education, excellent manual technique, and a sensitive ear that allow her to create a wide spectrum of piano tone colors.” (Vladimir Krainev). At the age of just 15, she was selected from 600 pianists worldwide to be one of the 24 finalists to compete in the World Piano Competition, organised under the patronage of HRH the Prince of Wales in the Purcell Room in London. Alissa's performance, as one of the youngest players in this competition, won her a full scholarship to study at the Purcell School of Music. She continued her studies in London at the Royal Academy and Trinity College of Music, where she graduated with a 1st class honors in 2007. She is currently studying at Trinity College of Music under Professor Martino Tirimo. In 2000, she performed the Liszt Piano Concerto no 2 with the Georgian State Symphony Orchestra in the Big Hall of the Georgian State Conservatory, conducted by Roman Brogli. Other performances include solo recitals in the Georgian State Conservatory, Sweden, Purcell Room, Royal Opera House Linbury Studios, London Coliseum, Inn Chapel, Regents Hall, the Reform Club, and the Wigmore Hall. Her future performances will include venues such as the South Bank Centre. She is much in demand for private recitals, including a recent performance for the Prince of Monaco at the Ritz Hotel.
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Giorgi Gigashvili - classical pianist (2000 - )

Giorgi Gigashvili is one of the young Georgian classical pianists. He was born in Tbilisi in 2000. Although he did not seriously consider a professional career as a pianist as a child and even won the music project “Akhali Khma” at the age of 13, he later completely conquered the world classical music scene. The main turning point in his career was his victory at the Vigo International Piano Competition in Spain in 2019, where the chairman of the jury was the legendary pianist Martha Argerich herself. Since then, Giorgi has won numerous prestigious awards and recognition on leading international platforms. Key achievements and career milestones are: International recognition: 2nd place at the prestigious Arthur Rubinstein Piano Competition (2023) and victory at the KlavierOlymp in Bad Kissingen. He was selected as a BBC New Generation Artist (2023–2025) and an ECHO Rising Star for the 2025/2026 season. Since 2025, he has officially become a Steinway Artist. His debut solo album Meeting my Shadow was released in 2023, and his new album is With All My Breath And All My Blood. He had a successful solo debut concert at the legendary Carnegie Hall in New York, and also regularly plays in leading European venues (e.g. the Berlin Konzerthaus, the Amsterdam Konzerthaus, etc.). 
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Sandro Gegechkori - classical pianist - (2000 - )

Pianist Sandro Gegechkori is a winner of many international and republican competitions and festivals. He was born in Chiatura (a city in Western Georgia). His parents are not musicians; however, unlike them, his grandmother graduated from the Kharkiv and Tbilisi Conservatories and was engaged in pedagogical work for a long time. In 2006, at the age of 6, he was admitted to the Sandro Kavsadze Chiatura Music School No. 1, in the piano class. His first teacher was Luda Nadiradze, later Vladimer Shermazanashvili and Darejan Kapanadze. 
In 2007, he won his first Grand Prix at a children's competition called "Youth Delphiade". He was 10 years old when he began writing musical works. Sandro Gegechkori finds it difficult to say at what age he realized his special attitude towards classical music. He says that no matter how brilliant a person is, he will not be able to feel the deep meaning of classical music in childhood as much as he does in adolescence. It was probably at the age of 14-15 that he realized that he could show the genius of classical music to the public.
After graduating from music school, he continued his studies in Tbilisi at the Zakaria Paliashvili Central Music School “Decade of Talents”, in the class of Professor Alexander Garber. He is currently a student at the Tbilisi State Conservatory, and his teacher is again Alexander Garber.
Sandro Gegechkori achieved international success at a young age and established himself on the world stage of classical music. He is the winner of numerous competitions: - Laureate and several special prizes at the Brescia International Piano Competition (Brescia); - Winner of the Claudette Sorrell International Piano Competition (New York); - Third Prize at the Republican Chopin Pianist Competition (Tbilisi); - Third Prize at the T. Amirejibi International Pianist Competition (Borjomi); - First Prize and Special Prize at the A. Babajanian International Pianist Competition (Yerevan, 2015); - Grand Prix and Special Prize at the Feurich International Pianist Competition (Vienna, 2018); - Maria Callas International Competition (First Prize, 2021); At the same competition, she he was also awarded a special prize - a compact disc recording on the world-famous Naxos CD platform and was awarded the Audience Award, the winner of which was determined as a result of online voting.
In 2017, S. Rachmaninoff's official international home museum "Ivanovka" has established a new music festival - "Sandro Gegechkori with Sergei Rachmaninoff". At the beginning of 2022, Sandro Gegechkori became an artist of the "World Federation of International Music Competitions" (WFIMC, Geneva).
Sandro Gegechkori has already had successful performances in many countries - Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Germany, the USA, China, etc. Over the next two years, he has 17 concerts planned across Europe and Asia. He systematically collaborates with various leading orchestras of the world and constantly gives solo concerts internationally in such prestigious halls as: the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Kaiser (Vienna, Austria), the Nanjing (Nanjing, China), the Vienna Mozart House concert halls, and others.
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Sandro Nebieridze - classical pianist - (2001 - )

Sandro Nebieridze was born on January 7, 2001, in Tbilisi. He is a classical pianist and composer who embarked on his musical journey at Z. Paliashvili Central Music School, Tbilisi, refining his skills under the guidance of notable mentors such as Neli Imedashvili and Lali Sanikidze. His education continued through Tbilisi Music Seminary and Tbilisi State Conservatoire, where he honed his dual prowess in piano and composition. He mastered Piano at the HMTM Munich and at the Fondazione Accademia di Imola, with world-acclaimed professors such as A. Siirala and B. Petrushansky.
Sandro’s accolades include laureate titles, a first prize at Astana Piano Passion, and a grand-prix triumph at the Grand Piano Competition (30 April - 5 May 2016). He is the winner of the Grand Prix in the Mariinsky International Piano Festival (St. Petersburg, Russia). Participation in “Stars on Baikal” International Music Festival (Irkutsk, Russia). Participation in Denis Matsuev’s project of the 2016/2017 concert season. Participated in Vladimir Spivakov’s project for the 2016/2017 concert season. Participated in the project of the Moscow Philharmonic Society of the 2016/2017 concert season. Special prize from Rosconcert – participation in the International Tariverdiev Music Festival in Tbilisi.

As a composer, his creations, like the award-winning Piano Concerto N1, Piano Toccata, the miniature for Mens’ Choir and the evocative “Illusionary Tango,” have garnered acclaim both in Georgia and abroad. 
In 2018, he graced the prestigious Rachmaninoff’s Villa Senar in Switzerland with a mesmerizing solo recital. In September 2019 Sandro’s debut album, featuring solo works by Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev, was released globally on Harmonia Mundi. The album not only earned him the ‘Tsinandali Prize’ but also a nomination at Opus Klassik 2020.
As a scholarship holder of the “Lisa Batiashvili Foundation” since 2021, Sandro has embarked on a whirlwind European tour. From captivating solo recitals in the Czech Republic, Norway, and Germany to stepping in as a last-minute replacement for Lang Lang in a ZDF Christmas concert, his artistry knows no bounds. 
Beyond the piano, Sandro’s compositions, including two Piano Concertos and the enchanting chamber ballet “Ink Rain” have premiered at esteemed venues like Konzerthaus Berlin, Tsinandali Amphitheatre and etc. Collaborating with orchestras worldwide, he has conducted performances under the batons of renowned conductors such as Petr Popelka, Olivier Tardy, Gianandrea Noseda and many more.