Georgian Sinfonietta

Selected Soloists will be presented at the colORCHESTRA concert with the Georgian Sinfonietta, the Chamber and Baroque Orchestra Ensemble in Tbilisi, Georgia, at the Grand Hall of Tbilisi Conservatory or another of the Orchestra’s venues.
Concert dates – 2024-25 and 2025-26 concert seasons.
Rehearsals with the Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina will be scheduled 3 days prior to the concert date.

The concert will be Broadcast Live by Virtual Concert Halls on various public channels on YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Twitch, among other platforms.
Video of the concert will be available for playbacks on the channels.

Soloists will participate in interviews for media and other activities associated with the event.
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Important dates: Application deadline - see dates on the website.
October 2024, January 2025 - Live Auditions Finals. Broadcast on video and social platforms. Meet the Judges and the Conductors. Streaming technology seminar in preparation for Live Audition - prior to performing LIVE.
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No age restrictions.
Any instrumental Concerto suitable for the Sinfonietta, a single movement, or Aria accepted.
BAROQUE compositions ACCEPTED, for possibility to present on authentic instruments. Two harpsichords are available for performance.

Meet the Orchestra

Founded in 2008, Tbilisi State Chamber Orchestra – “Georgian Sinfonietta” aims to deliver the most diverse repertoire at the highest artistic level. The schedule of the orchestra includes performances both in Georgia and Europe, as well as regions of Georgia.

Since the acquisition of period instruments in 2012, the orchestra pioneers historically informed performances in the Caucasus. In 2015, the orchestra founded “Tbilisi Baroque Festival”, which is held annually.

Meet the Conductor

Giorgi Kerelashvili, artistic director of the Tbilisi State Chamber Orchestra, also known as the Georgian Sinfonietta orchestra. “We are the first and only orchestra in the Caucasus region to have acquired the status of a Baroque orchestra in 2012,” Kerelashvili shares at the outset of the conversation with this writer, beaming with pride. For the uninitiated, Baroque refers to a post-Renaissance style originating in 17th century Europe, that stands out from modern classical music in its attention to ornamentation, improvisation and stylistic diversity; much like Indian classical music, one could say. “Before the Classical period introduced the ideals of structure, rhythm and harmonies, Baroque implemented instruments of organic origin, and a style that sounded just as organic,”. While the style remains the ensemble’s forte, the director reminds us that its repertoire is expansive, encompassing modern classical and Romantic styles.

Learn More

Application and Audition Process

Application form is DUE by the posted DEADLINES throughout the season.
Upload video of any piece (with or without accompaniment). YouTube or Google Drive links are accepted
Application fee $75

Selected musicians will be invited to audition live on a public Internet TV Broadcast* and will receive a preparation tech session with VCHS Broadcast Engineers.
You will meet the Judges during Live Audition.
Live Auditions are held virtually.
Live Auditions are judged in real time.
Judges provide participants with immediate on-air feedback.
During the live audition participants will be able to speak with Judges.
• The judges’ decisions are final and may not be contested.
• To participate in the live online auditions, each musician must prepare required technical setup
Live Audition Fee - $250
*Fee includes the Technology Preparation session with A/V and Broadcast engineers

You will be notified about your acceptance into the colORCHESTRA program

Fees

Application and video pre-screening - $75
Live Audition - $250
Performance - NO FEE ($0)

Selected soloists are expected to cover their own travel expenses.

Upon request colORCHESTRA provides supporting documentation for selected soloists' visa applications.

Selected soloists may request press releases, letters of recommendation, confirmations of their participation in the concert, in support of the soloist's grants applications.

Apply

GEORGIAN SINFONIETTA

Tbilisi State Chamber Orchestra

HISTORY OF THE ORCHESTRA

Since the acquisition of period instruments in 2012, the orchestra pioneers historically informed performances in the Caucasus. In 2015, the orchestra founded “Tbilisi Baroque Festival”, which is held annually.

“Georgian Sinfonietta” has performed in celebrated venues such as Konzerthaus Berlin, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Grand hall of Munich Conservatoire, The Muslim Magomayev Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall, Komitas Chamber Music House (Erevan), Helsinki Camerata hall (Finland), and etc. The orchestra is a regular guest to festivals including “Autumn Tbilisi”, “Telavi International Music Festival”, “New Year Music Celebrations”, “The Easter Festival”, “Baroque Music Days” (Azerbaijan), “Immling Festival” (Germany), “Goldberg Festival” Gdansk (Poland) and others.

“Georgian Sinfonietta” has collaborated with Jordi Savall, Sergio Azzolini, Christine Busch, Christoph Mayer, Jean Rondeau, Davide Amadio, ensemble “Zefiro”, Academy for Early Music Berlin (Akamus) and others. The orchestra, together with Giorgi Aleksidze Tbilisi Contemporary Ballet Troupe has implemented a number of successful projects by the choreography of Mariam Aleksidze.

Concerts of the “Georgian Sinfonietta” were broadcasted on the TV channels “MEZZO”, “ARTE” and others. The orchestra has recorded 10 CDs that include music of all epochs from baroque composers to contemporary.

Tbilisi Conservatory

The Tbilisi Conservatoire was founded on 1 May 1917. It was formally recognized by the Russian Musical Society as a conservatoire later that year.

The original building was designed by Aleksander Szymkiewicz and built in 1901-05. Unlike most buildings of the same style in the given period, the conservatoire's column decorated main portal is not centrally located. Rather, along with the main facade it is built near the left corner of the building in order for it to face the main entrance from the Rustaveli Avenue.

The style of the building is eclectic in nature. While original two-story building was built with elements of renaissance and baroque, the exterior of the present four-story building is neoclassical and somewhat less ornate. The exterior displays the statue of Anton Rubinstein, a Russian pianist and composer who in 1891 donated an entire income from one of his concerts for the opening of the original conservatoire building.

The main auditorium and the smaller auditorium are the two auditoriums in the building. The conservatoire's tiny auditorium is renowned for its ornately decorated walls. The main auditorium also holds an organ from the Alexander Schuke factory in Potsdam, Germany, installed in 1963.

Today the conservatoire teaching staff includes about 200 professors. There are about 400 students.

Cultural events taking place at the Conservatoire include: music forums, national competitions, international symposia and scientific conferences, master classes, chamber and symphony concerts and student opera performances at the Conservatoire Opera Studio.

Since 1995 the State Conservatoire has aligned itself with the two-step European Educational System of studies. Since 2006 the Tbilisi State Conservatoire has become a member of the European Association of Conservatories. From 2005 the Conservatoire joined the Bologna Process with its international student transfer and credit system.