Nikoloz Rachveli (born 1979) is a Georgian composer, pianist, conductor and arranger whose artistic profile is defined by a rare synthesis of creative roles and a strong international presence on Georgia’s and Europe’s classical music scenes. He currently serves as General Music Director of the Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Center of Music, where his artistic leadership has played a central role in shaping Georgia’s contemporary orchestral identity.

Rachveli was recognized as a musical prodigy at an early age. At the age of ten, he made his conducting debut with the Georgian State Orchestra, performing Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. From the age of twelve, he began presenting concerts of his own music in Georgia and Germany, appearing both as a pianist and organist. He later continued his musical education at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, an experience that played a decisive role in shaping his artistic outlook and strengthening his connection to the European musical tradition.

His music and arrangements are regularly performed by leading orchestras and ensembles, reflecting a broad stylistic range that bridges contemporary symphonic writing, refined orchestral arrangements and genre-crossing concert concepts.

He has collaborated with leading figures of contemporary and classical music, including Giya Kancheli, Arvo Pärt and Michel Legrand; internationally renowned soloists, singers and conductors such as Gidon Kremer, Yuri Bashmet, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Lisa Batiashvili, and Khatia Buniatishvili; as well as artists from the worlds of jazz, popular and crossover music, including Sting, Björk, Till Brönner, Katie Melua, and Giorgi Gigashvili. These collaborations span symphonic, chamber and crossover projects, frequently centered around Rachveli’s own compositions and orchestral arrangements.

His music has been presented in many of Europe’s major concert venues, including the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Philharmonie de Paris, BOZAR Brussels, and Shostakovich Philharmonic Hall in Saint Petersburg, as well as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York. Recent seasons have included major debuts at the Beethovenfest in Bonn, as well as in Zurich, Lugano and Ljubljana.

Rachveli’s discography includes the album City Lights, released by Deutsche Grammophon in collaboration with violinist Lisa Batiashvili and the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. The recording, featuring Rachveli’s compositions and orchestral arrangements, has been praised for its cinematic scope, refined orchestration and distinctive artistic voice.

Since 2022, Nikoloz Rachveli has been widely recognized for his artistic solidarity with Ukraine. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion, he initiated and conducted numerous concerts, performances and international collaborations in support of Ukraine, both in Georgia and across Europe. He has performed and worked extensively with Ukrainian orchestras and musicians. Through music, fundraising concerts and international advocacy, Rachveli has become a visible cultural voice standing with Ukraine on Europe’s concert stages.

Through his artistic work and civic engagement, Nikoloz Rachveli has emerged as a significant cultural figure from the Caucasus region, actively shaping dialogue between Eastern European musical traditions and the wider European concert landscape. His career reflects a deep commitment to artistic freedom, international collaboration and the belief in music as a moral and unifying force in times of crisis.

Nikoloz Rachveli has been elected three times as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Georgia by the United Nations. He has received numerous national and international awards, including Georgia’s highest honor, the Shota Rustaveli State Prize, in recognition of his lifetime achievements.