Georgian pianist wins gold at top US competition

A Georgian pianist added another prize to her growing list of accolades after winning the 2015 Louisiana International Piano Competition in the United States (US).

University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music student Nino Bakradze won the gold medal in the prestigious contest that featured students from the world’s top music schools.

Bakradze was awarded the victory following seven days of intensive competition, which concluded with the final round on October 24 where she performed Beethoven Piano Concerto No.4, accompanied by an orchestra.

The biennial event was hosted by the Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Centre and was held for the sixth time. The contest featured 19 piano students from across the world including South Korea, Canada, France, China and Italy.

Earlier this year Nino Bakradze won silver at the Cincinnati World Piano Competition. Photo by David Rafie/Cincinatti World Piano Competition.

With the win Bakradze received the formal award and a cash prize as well as an offer to perform with an orchestra at concerts in Europe and the US, including the New York’s famed Carnegie Hall.

The Louisiana International Piano Competition will also sponsor a CD recording of her solo repertoire.

The event was regarded as one of the most prestigious piano contests in the US, University of Arizona music professor Tannis Gibson told the University’s website.

These top competitions are typically populated by piano students from major conservatories and music schools worldwide: Juilliard, Manhattan, Eastman, Shanghai, Moscow," said Gibson while noting the Fred Fox School of Music’s delight at their student’s victory in the contest.

Earlier this year, Bakradze won silver at the Cincinnati World Piano Competition and was named Most Outstanding Arizona pianist at the Bösendorfer International Piano Competition.

The Georgian artist’s other achievements included a win at the President's Competition of University of Arizona in 2014. Bakradze’s appearances at international competitions in recent years included events in Spain and Brazil, which also resulted in prizes and awards.

Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Bakradze launched her international performing career after receiving a scholarship from Georgia’s International Education Centre (IEC), which funds the study costs of Georgian citizens at leading international universities.

Established in 2014 by the Government of Georgia, the IEC has already financed the study of 88 Georgian students at world renowned universities in the US, Europe and Asia in a variety of fields.

See Nino Bakradze perform Beethoven Piano Concerto No.4 at the Aram Khachaturian International Competition earlier this year: