Ani Sulkhanishvili & Nia Sulkhanishvili
Biography Ani Sulkhanishvili & Nia Sulkhanishvili
Ani and Nia Sulkhanishvili
were born as twins in Tbilisi / Georgia in 1988.
At the age of 6 they received their first piano lessons from Svetlana Arakelova. The twins later moved to the Z. Paliashvili Music High School under Prof. Lali Sanikidze, who accompanied them until they completed their studies at the Tbilisi State Conservatory.
Until the age of 13, the girls never tried out in a duo. It was only by chance that they came across Debussy's Little Suite for four hands. The interaction fascinated both of them so much that they convinced their teacher to teach them as a piano duo. Shortly afterwards, both took part in the piano duo competition “International Competition for Young Pianists” (Tbilisi / Georgia) and received first prize and the jury’s special prize. From this moment on, Ani and Nia continued their intensive two-pronged training - in addition to studying piano, they also studied piano duo.
They gave their first important concert with a large program as a duo at the age of 16 in Moscow - with overwhelming success. Since then they have constantly expanded their repertoire, both for four hands and for two pianos and with orchestral accompaniment.
In 2004 they were awarded first prize at the “Konzerteum” piano competition (Athens).
Intensive concert activity took the young musicians far beyond Georgia to Russia, Germany, Switzerland and Poland.
Other international competitions followed:
2005: “Taneev International Chamber Music Competition” (Moscow): 2nd prize and two special prizes
2008: “San Marino Piano Competition Allegro Vivo” (San Marino): 1st prize, special prize from Chick Corea, special prizes from the Republic of San Marino, special prizes from TV Rai Uno
2010: “International Valberg Piano Duo Competition (France): 2nd prize
2011: “5. International Piano Duo Competition (Poland, Lomza): 2nd prize, special university prize
F. Chopin in Warsaw and special prize from the Lomza Philharmonic Orchestra
From 2012 to 2014, thanks to a DAAD scholarship, they studied at the University of Music and Theater in Munich and then until 2014 at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg with the piano duo Yaara Tal and Andreas
Groethuysen. During this time, Ani and Nia gave numerous concerts in Germany.
In 2015, the American composer Mar Maarder dedicated his composition Andante & Tocata to them, which premiered in Warsaw.
The highlight of her career to date was second prize at the “64th ARD International Music Competition” in Munich in 2015. This was the start of an international career with performances in Europe, America and China.
The piano duo masters a large repertoire that spans the eras from classical to modern. (2022)
