Nikoloz Memanishvili

Nikoloz Rachveli
Born	15 May 1979 Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union
Nationality	Georgian
Alma mater	University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, Tbilisi State Conservatoire
Occupation	Composer, conductor
Years active	1989-present

Nikoloz Memanishvili (Georgian: ნიკოლოზ რაჭველი; born 15 May 1979) is a Georgian conductor, composer and cultural manager. He composes and arranges for theatre and film, using themes from Georgian and non-Georgian composers. Memanishvili is the Principal Conductor of the Georgia National Symphony Orchestra, and Head of the Georgia National Music Center. He has been leading the Mikeladze Symphony Orchestra since 2007.

Nikoloz (Nika) Memanishvili was born to Georgian parents in Tbilisi. His family originated from the Racha region from where he experienced Georgian chants and polyphonic folk songs.

He began music studies at Tbilisi Mikeladze Music School and at the age of nine wrote a children’s opera, staged by musician and director Maka Aroshidze. While at the school he formed a jazz band in which he played piano. He was encouraged to perform publicly by musicologist Evgeny Machavariani, artistic director of the Georgian State Philharmonic.

Memanishvili attended the Evgeni Mikeladze Art College, graduating in 1996. Further study was at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, from 1999 to 2003, and the Tbilisi State Conservatoire department of composition, from where he graduated in 2005.

When 10 years old Memanishvili was invited to conduct the State Symphonic Orchestra of Georgia by its Artistic Director Jansugh Kakhidze. Later, in 2005, Memanishvili became the principal conductor for the same orchestra. As an 11-year-old he conducted Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony for the Georgian State Symphony Orchestra. He performed his first piano and organ pieces at age 13 on a tour of German cities, through the invitation of artistic director Hermann Wedekind.

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