Georgian pianist awarded top Polish cultural prize

An award-winning Georgian pianist and founder of music events in Georgia has been granted Poland's top culture prize in recognition of her contribution to Georgian-Polish relations.

Pianist Manana Doijashvili, 68, was awarded the Meritorious for Polish Culture badge for her efforts towards "development and strengthening of Polish–Georgian cultural relations and promotion of Polish culture".

The awards ceremony was held at the Tbilisi State Conservatory last week.

Doijashvili, a recipient of Georgia's state Order of Honour prize in 1999, was granted the Polish award by Poland's Ambassador to Georgia Andrzej Cieszkowski in the December 17 ceremony in front of other Embassy representatives who attended the ceremony.

The event coincided with the awards for the Frederic Chopin Competition for Young Pianists, a contest established by Doijashvili in 2008, who now serves as Deputy Rector of the Tbilisi Conservatory.

For 10 years between 2002 and 2012 she served as Rector of the Conservatory and oversaw the educational venue maintain close cultural ties with music academies in Polish cities Krakow, Poznan and Katowice.

The Conservatory also allowed its students to participate in the annual Polish project I, Culture Orchestra for young performers from the European Union's Eastern Partnership states.

During her life Doijashvili won several international piano competitions in the 1970s including contests in Australia and the Czech Republic. She was also recognised for her contribution to cultural development and relations in Georgia and abroad.

Recipient of the People's Artist of Georgia title, Doijashvili was awarded the Order of Arts and Literature of France in 2005 and the Performing Arts Foundation Prize of Russia in 2008, among other awards.

In an effort to organise music events in Georgia, Doijashvili established the annual New Year Music Celebrations festival in Tbilisi in 1997.