The VIII Tbilisi International Piano Competition

1.  Belyavskiy Sergey, Germany (02.11.1993)

2.  Breen Rachel, USA (12.10.1996)

3.  Chen Haoyu, China (15.10.2007)

4.  Cheng Jiarui, China (25.11.1998)

5.  Fan Yuang, China (08.04.2005)

6.  Huang Ron Maxim, Germany (03.07.2001)

7.  Kang Donghwi, South Korea (28.02.2008)

8.  Kim Song Hyeon, South Korea (01.10.2002)

9.  Kim Sunmin, South Korea (14.02.2002)

10. Leo de María, Spain (18.12.1995)

11. Merlini Leonardo, Italy (20.02.2003)

12. Lin Yixiu, China (09.10.2004)

13. Ma Tiankun, China (26.05.2007)

14. McLachlan Callum, UK (08.03.1999)

15. Mikeladze Saba, Georgia (11.02.2003)

16. Miyazato Motoshi, Japan/Switzerland (07.05.1995)

17. Paitchadze Ana, Georgia (15.05.2007)

18. Shin Hyojin, South Korea (28.02.1997)

19. Skomorokhov Vladimir (27.03.1999)

20. Tajima Chiune, Japan (23.12.1998)

21. Wang Kevin, Canada (30.04.2005)

22. Wang Taige, USA (25.08.2010)

23. Ye Fangzhou, China (28.11.2000)

24. Yoo Sung Ho, South Korea (29.08.1996)

25. Yoo Taewoong, South Korea (22.09.1998)

26. Zhang Zhiqiao, China (15.04.1998)

27. Zheng Hongyi (Aaron), China (19.07.2002)

        WAITING LIST

1. Abdiel Calvin, Australia/Indonesia (23.01.2001)
2. Bonnet Antonin, France (21.06.2001)
3. Chen David Jun, China (09.05.2002)
4. Chan Hans, USA (20.12.1998)
5. Ein Gal Nadav, Israel (22.01.2007)
6. Esformes Itamar, Israel (18.02.2001)
7. Fujisawa Arisa, Japan (29.09.1993)
8. Jia Mohan, China (27.04.2007)
9. Shemchuk Ivan, Ukraine/Romania (26.11.1994)
10. Sun Haolun, China (09.06.2004)

SCORE: Nicolas Namoradze "Wasserspiel"

Photo Credit: Nathan Elson

Nicolas Namoradze – pianist and composer – known for his innovative artistry, came to international attention in 2018 upon winning the triennial Honens International Piano Competition in Calgary, Canada, and has since garnered international acclaim. A Musical America New Artist, BBC Music Magazine Rising Star and Gramophone One to Watch, he was awarded the Pianist of the Year Prize by the UK Critics’ Circle in 2022. His sold-out recitals worldwide have received critical praise, and his recordings have earned distinctions including Choc de Classica, Limelight Record of the Month, BBC Music Magazine Instrumental Disc of the Month, Gramophone Editor’s Choice, Presto Classical Editor’s Choice and International Piano Critics’ Choice, as well as a No.1 debut in the UK classical charts.

An exclusive Ondine artist, his first album with the label will be released in 2026.

Recent and future highlights include tours the UK, US and Germany, and further afield in Japan and Taiwan, with residencies at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Cleveland Institute of Music, Morningside Music Bridge and the University of Puget Sound. He appears at leading venues including the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Kronberg Casals Forum, Prinzregententheater Munich, Al Mayassa Theatre Doha, Kaufman Center and Steinway Hall New York, and London’s Wigmore Hall recital. He also presents his groundbreaking Neurorecital in the UK and Canada which has been featured in the Financial Times, BBC Music Magazine, New York Times and Radio Classique.

His projects reimagine the concert experience through lecture-recitals, multimedia performances and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Highlights of his work as a composer include commissions and performances by leading artists and ensembles including Ken-David Masur, Lukas Ligeti, Tessa Lark, Metropolis Ensemble and the Momenta, Verona and Barkada Quartets, at festivals such as the Chelsea Music Festival, Honens Festival, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Portland Piano International, Klavier-Festival Ruhr and the Schnabel Foundation. His work features on several albums on the Steinway & Sons label. He has also composed and produced film soundtracks including Le chant des étoiles (Musée Unterlinden) and Nuit d’opéra à Aix (Festival d’Aix-en-Provence). His works are published by Muse Press.

Active in performance innovation, Namoradze draws on his background in cognitive science; his doctoral thesis at the CUNY Graduate Center, awarded the Barry Brook Prize, was published by Springer as Ligeti’s Macroharmonies.

Born in Tbilisi and raised in Budapest, he studied with Emanuel Ax, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Zoltán Kocsis, Matti Raekallio, András Schiff, Eliso Virsaladze in piano and John Corigliano in composition.

He currently serves on the faculty of the CUNY Graduate Center and deputizes at The Juilliard School.

1. The Eighth Tbilisi International Piano Competition will be held on October 5 - 16, 2026 in Tbilisi, Georgia.

2. The Competition is quadrennial.

3. The Competition is open to pianists from 16 through 33 years of age. 

4. All competitors must have health insurance coverage for the duration of their stay in Tbilisi, Georgia.

5. Any competitor, who had or has had during the preceding five years, a familial, teaching, or professional relationship with any jury member (Master classes excluded) must declare that relationship to the Artistic Director/Competition Administration.

6. Preliminary jury of three judges will be responsible for the selection of 25 competitors from the pool of applicants.

7. The Competition consists of four rounds: I and II Rounds, III Round – Semifinal and IV Round – Final.

8. There is no elimination after the First Round: All participants shall perform at both – I and II Stages.

9. 10 contestants will be admitted to the Semifinal and 6 to the Final.

10. The Competition is open to the public.

11. The program, except for the mandatory Georgian piece, shall be performed from memory. 

12. The repertoire may be performed in any order.

13. No work shall be repeated at any stage of the competition.

14. Piece/Pieces performed in the pre-selection video-recording can be included in the competition program.

15. No changes in the submitted program will be accepted.

16. The order of performances in the competition will be determined by drawing of lots and will be strictly adhered to throughout the competition.

17. All competitors must attend drawing of lots on October 5, 2026.

18. All semifinalists will be awarded certificates.

19. All finalists will be awarded monetary prizes, competition medals and diplomas.

20. All Main and Special Prizes shall be awarded upon the Jury decision.

21. All prize winners must take part in the Gala Concert without receiving a fee.

22. Any recording made during the course of the competition may only be used with the prior approval of the Competition Administration.

23. Video – Recordings of all four rounds shall be available on “The Georgian Music Competitions Fund” official web-page.

FIRST ROUND (20–25 minutes)

1. D. Scarlatti: Two sonatas of the competitor’s choice

2. F. Chopin: One virtuosic Etude

3. One etude by any composer except for F. Chopin

4. One or several works of the competitor’s choice

SECOND ROUND (35-40 minutes)

1. One complete sonata by J. Haydn, W. A. Mozart, L. van Beethoven or  F. Schubert 

2. The work of a Georgian composer (5-7 minutes) * 

3. One or several works of the competitor’s choice

* The score shall be uploaded on an official website no later than June 1, 2026

THIRD ROUND (Semifinal) (55–60 minutes)

RECITAL

A free program choice

FOURTH ROUND (Final)

One of the following concertos to be performed with a symphony orchestra:

W. A. Mozart

• Concerto in E-flat major, K.271
• Concerto in B-flat major, K.450
• Concerto in G major, K.453
• Concerto in B-flat major, K.456
• Concerto in D minor, K.466
• Concerto in C major, K.467
• Concerto in E-flat major, K.482
• Concerto in A major, K.488
• Concerto in C minor, K.491
• Concerto in C major, K.503
• Concerto in D major, K.537
• Concerto in B-flat major, K.595

L. van Beethoven 

• Concerto N1 in C major, op.15
• Concerto N2 in B-flat major, op.19
• Concerto N3 in C minor, op.37
• Concerto N4 in G major, op.58                         
• Concerto N5 in E-flat major, op.73

F. Chopin

• Concerto N1 in E minor, op.11
• Concerto N2 in F minor, op.21

F. Liszt

• Concerto N1 in E-flat major, S.124
• Concerto N2 in A major, S.125

R. Schumann

• Concerto in A minor, op.54

J. Brahms

• Concerto N1 in D minor, op.15
• Concerto N2 in B-flat major, op.83

P. Tchaikovsky     

• Concerto N1 in B-flat minor, op.23

S. Rachmaninoff 

• Concerto N2 in C minor, op.18
• Concerto N3 in D minor, op.30
• Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op.43

S. Prokofiev

• Concerto N2 in G minor, op.16
• Concerto N3 in C major, op.26

 The following attachments (PDF file) and a video recording should be submitted together with the application form: 

• High-quality video recording: 

            A 25-30-minute-long program that includes:

            1. One Chopin Etude

            2. Two movements of a classical Sonata (J. Haydn, W.A. Mozart, L.v. Beethoven, F. Schubert)

            3. Any piece or pieces

*It is allowed to include the same pieces (complete or partial) of the actual competition repertoire

*Recordings must be not more than one year old by the time of applying

*Edited recordings are not allowed

• A copy of an official document (ID-card, passport);
• A copy of a certificate of studies;  
• Copies of prizes won in major competitions (2023-2026);
• Artist CV;
• Letters of recommendation from two eminent musicians;
• Two recent high-quality photographs (JPG File); 
• High-quality video recording:  
• Laureates of the three top prizes at any member - competition of the WFIMC /Geneva/, will be excused from the preliminary audition by submitting the proving copies of prizes;
• A copy of a receipt with an applicant's name confirming transfer of non-refundable Entry Fee of 100 US Dollars (no other currency allowed).

*Expenses connected with the money transfer shall be paid by the applicant

*Indicate the name and address of the Bank where the transfer is made from

1. Any juror who has, or has had during the preceding five years, a familial, teaching, or professional relationship* with a competitor must declare that relationship to the Artistic Director. That juror will not be voting for the corresponding competitor.

                  *Master classes do not count as a teaching relationship

2. The Jury of the Competition shall have the rights:
   • Not to award any of the prizes.
   • To split prize/prizes except the First Prize among the established number of finalists.

      3. All decisions of the Jury shall be final and beyond appeal.

I   Prize    20, 000 US Dollars
II  Prize    10, 000 US Dollars
III Prize      7, 000 US Dollars
IV Prize      5, 000 US Dollars
V  Prize      4, 000 US Dollars
VI Prize      3, 000 US Dollars
 

* Given amounts are NET.

The taxation shall be done by The Georgian Music Competitions   Fund in accordance with the Georgian tax law.

Vano Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire Grand Hall was built in 1938-1941 (Architect: Shalva Tavadze).

It was festively opened on January 28, 1942.

In the following years, there emerged an idea of Z. Paliashvili’s opera “Abesalom da Eteri” to be staged by the Opera Studio in the Grand Hall. To implement this idea, it was necessary to reconstruct the stage - an orchestra pit was installed. Thus, the Opera Studio premiered their first performance in 1952.

In 1963, a three manual and forty register “Alexander Schuke Potsdam” organ was installed in the Grand Hall. Its timbre and register specifications were perfectly adjusted to the Hall’s acoustics. Over the years, famous organ players, such as: Isay Braudo, James Dalton, Jean Guillou, Garry Grodberg, Hugo Lepnurm, Leonid Roizman and Rdolf Lutz have performed on this remarkable instrument. Renowned Georgian organ player Eter Mgaloblishvili’s career is also inextricably linked with this organ.

During ten years (1987 – 1997), the Grand Hall did not function. It was restored and renovated under the initiative of Manana Doijashvili - the Georgian Pianist, Public Figure, Tbilisi International Piano Competition Founder&Artistic Director including 2022, TSC Professor -  and with the support of the Georgian government; and thus, the Grand Hall became and has remained a significant cultural center for the capital of Georgia ever since. In 1998 the Georgian Parliament together with the Republic of Germany restored the organ.

The Grand Hall has a seating capacity of 500; it is remarkable in terms of acoustics and can host both symphony and chamber concerts. The Hall has a digital audio-recording studio, organ, two “Steinway & Sons” concert grand pianos and all facilities which meet modern standards.

Since 1997 the Grand Hall has hosted an annual international festival “New Year Music Celebrations” which, always, presents the world renowned musicians.

There are classical, folk, and jazz concerts; opera studio performances and student recitals; International Symposiums on Traditional Polyphony, as well as national and international competitions held in this historic hall. It is, also, a rather desirable venue for various cultural events like exhibitions, book or CD presentations.