Tbilisi State Conservatoire, Tbilisi

Founded on 1 May 1917, the Tbilisi State Conservatoire holds the distinction of being Georgia's first higher music institution and, for a time, the only European-style conservatory in the entire Caucasus region. In 1924, it was officially designated as a State Conservatoire, cementing its central role in musical education in Georgia. Since 1947, it has borne the name of Vano Sarajishvili, a legendary operatic singer and beloved figure in Georgian music.

Designed by the Polish architect Aleksander Szymkiewicz, whose work greatly shaped Tbilisi’s architectural landscape in the early 20th century, the conservatoire building blends Renaissance and Baroque influences with a later neoclassical façade. Notably, a statue of the famed pianist Anton Rubinstein adorns the façade-a homage to his generous contribution from a charitable concert in 1891. Inside, the building features two concert halls: a smaller recital hall with around 200 seats, and a grand hall seating approximately 500, complete with a remarkable Schuke‑Potsdam pipe organ installed in 1963.

The Grand Hall, reconstructed during 1938–1941 under architect Sh. Tavadze and inaugurated in January 1942, has hosted world-renowned performers such as Sviatoslav Richter, Emil Gilels, Mstislav Rostropovich, and David Oistrakh. It remains a focal point of Tbilisi’s concert life. The conservatoire also nurtures Georgian musical tradition-student opera rehearsals, academic symphonies, international masterclasses, and music competitions are part of its cultural offerings.