February 2024

by Esther Keller-Pickup

Some of us from BTA went to St George's Church on Thursday 15 February to attend a BBC Radio 3 piano concert by Georgian pianist Giorgi Gigashvili. 

George was born in Tbilisi (Georgia) in 2000 and studied piano without even thinking about a professional career as a pianist.
He is passionate about the folk songs of his country, which he enjoys arranging and singing. He even participated in the Georgian “Voice” and won the competition at the age of thirteen! However, he continued his musical studies at the Paliashvili Central Music School for Gifted Children and entered the Tbilisi State Conservatory in the class of Revaz Tavadze.

Giorgi's pianistic career took a decisive turn in April 2019 when he won first prize at the Vigo International Piano Competition with Marta as president of the jury and Nelson Freire at her side. A few months later, Giorgi won the Third Prize and the Audience Award at the Sixty-second Busoni Competition.

The night before the concert, Derek took Georgie out to lunch.

The BBC has recorded the performance and it will be broadcast on radio on Thursday 29 February 2024 at 1pm.
Below is a link to the radio program, as well as some photos of George taken last week.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001whz7