UNESCO Artist for Peace: Georgian pianist Elisso Bolkvadze

A Georgian-born pianist has officially been recognised by UNESCO as an Artist for Peace.

The official awards ceremony to recognise Elisso Bolkvadze as a UNESCO Artist for Peace was held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris today where she was honoured by UNESCO director general Irina Bokova.

Elisso Bolkvadze delivered speech at her awards ceremony: UNESCO Artist for Peace. Photo by Georgia's MFA.

Bolkvadze, the first Georgian to receive this honour, has become the 55th artist to use her name and global status to promote UNESCO’s main goals and values around the world.

The famous Georgian pianist was nominated to UNESCO for the appointment in July by Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Maia Panjikidze, who was UNESCO’s National Commission President.

UNESCO granted the pianist with this special status for her support through her foundation LYRA, which she created in 2012 for the musical education and creativity of talented young Georgians.

Georgian pianist Elisso Bolkvadze with the UNESCO director general Irina Bokova at the award ceremony. Photo by MFA.

In her capacity as a UNESCO Artist for Peace, Bolkvadze will be involved in the organisation’s activities in the field of education of children in conflict-affected areas.

Born in Tbilisi, Bolkvadze performed her first concert alongside an orchestra at the tender age of seven. In her youth, her playing was influenced by the famous Russian Soviet pianist Tatiana Nikolaeva. Later, French composer and musician Michel Sogny provided her with an important artistic influence.

Over the years she performed around the world in venues including the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, the Herkulessaal in Munich and the Pasadena Auditorium in Los Angeles.