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TBILISI, GEORGIA

A Musical Tradition Looking to the Future in Tbilisi

Competitions

The eighth Tbilisi International Piano Competition brought together young pianists from around the world, reaffirming the city's place in international musical life

With a rich musical heritage and a longstanding tradition of piano performance and education, Georgia has maintained a distinctive place in the classical music world. For nearly three decades, the Tbilisi International Piano Competition has contributed to this tradition, bringing young pianists and internationally established musicians to the Georgian capital and creating opportunities for artistic exchange in a region where such connections are particularly valuable.

Established in 1997 through the initiative of pianist and educator Manana Doijashvili, the competition has developed into an important international event for young pianists. Its eighth edition, held from 5 to 16 October 2026 at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire, took place against a backdrop of political tensions and uncertainty in Georgia, giving the continuation of international cultural activities particular significance.

This year's competition welcomed 22 pianists, selected through preliminary video auditions, for four live rounds. Six participants advanced to the final, performing with the Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Paweł Przytocki. The international jury, chaired by Yoheved Kaplinsky, brought together eleven pianists, educators and music professionals.

 

Taige Wang, First prize winner

First Prize was awarded to Taige Wang, a 16-year-old pianist and composer based in New York. A student of Yoheved Kaplinsky at the Juilliard School, Wang is also a Young Steinway Artist and a scholar of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation. He has previously performed with the Cleveland Orchestra and appeared at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. In Tbilisi, he performed Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 in the final round and received four additional distinctions, including awards for artistry, the best semifinal recital, the best classical sonata and the best interpretation of a Georgian work.

Second Prize went to Jiarui Cheng, 27, who studies with Stanislav Ioudenitch at Park University in the Kansas City area. Previously a student at the Cleveland Institute of Music, he has received prizes at the Scriabin and Isang Yun international piano competitions and has performed with orchestras in Asia, Europe and the United States. In Tbilisi, he performed Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 and also received a special award for exceptional virtuosity.

Third Prize was awarded to Donghwi Kang, 18, who studies at the New England Conservatory in Boston with HaeSun Paik. His previous distinctions include the Grand Prize at the Korea Steinway Piano Competition and Second Prize at the Hilton Head International Piano Competition. He performed Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in the final round.

The competition also awarded Fourth Prize to Rachel Breen, Fifth Prize to Sunmin Kim and Sixth Prize to Haoyu Chen. Special awards recognised individual performances of works by Scarlatti, Chopin and Georgian composers.

 

Final round with Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra and Paweł Przytocki (Conductor)

This was the first edition held since the death in January 2023 of Manana Doijashvili, the competition's founder and longtime director. A pianist, professor and former rector of the Tbilisi State Conservatoire, Doijashvili played a central role in developing Georgia's international musical institutions. In addition to establishing the piano competition in 1997, she founded the Georgian Music Competitions Fund and initiated several other competitions and educational projects. Her work helped create lasting connections between Georgian musicians and the international music community. The special prize bearing her name, awarded this year to Taige Wang for his interpretation of a Georgian composition, was a fitting recognition of that legacy.

The competition took place at a particularly difficult time for Georgia. The country has experienced sustained political tensions, public demonstrations and increasing international concern over its democratic development and relations with Europe. Against this background, the continuation of an international cultural event of this scale carries particular significance. The Tbilisi Competition remains an important point of contact between the Caucasus and the wider musical world, providing opportunities for young musicians to encounter Georgian musical culture while maintaining professional and artistic exchanges across borders.

 

Awards
First Prize: Taige Wang (16), New York
Second Prize: Jiarui Cheng (27), Kansas City
Third Prize: Donghwi Kang (18), Boston

Jury
Yoheved Kaplinsky (Chair), Michel Béroff, Jane Coop, Alessandro Deljavan, Petras Geniušas, Stanislav Khristenko, Momo Kodama, Nicolas Namoradze, HaeSun Paik, Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń, John Rink

Artists
Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra / Paweł Przytocki (Conductor)

© WFIMC 2026/ FR