For classical music world star, Lisa Batiashvili, one of the most life-changing events occurred at only 12 years of age. An early musical talent, the German violinist with Georgian roots left her then war-torn home country for Europe, to become one of the most renowned musicians of our time. Benefiting from the developed musical infrastructure of the west and receiving early and generous support from many sides over the years, she was given privileged access to a top-class musical education under the patronage of leading teachers and role models. As a result, she has built a profound artistic career with long-standing relationships to the world’s leading orchestras, conductors, and musicians. With the formation of the LISA BATIASHVILI FOUNDATION, she now seeks to pass along the support she was given and bring even greater focus to her ongoing steady commitment from over the years to strengthen the professional musical education in Georgia.

Starting 2021, the LISA BATIASHVILI FOUNDATION will strive to provide individually tailored support to young, highly talented musicians living in Georgia, who lack the sufficient financial means to embark on a promising professional career of their own. By providing new perspectives that are not sufficiently available in Georgia alone, the foundation aims to create opportunities for them to gather insights from new cultural encounters and grow on an international level. The foundation’s main source of inspiration and local partner, the Tsinandali Festival, will work in close cooperation to fulfill this long-term vision. Next to allocating the necessary material resources, the foundation’s foremost focus is to open up opportunities that allow a profound personal and creative development.

The scholarship holders and the scope of funding granted to them are selected individually and personally by Lisa Batiashvili, founder and artistic director, together with the foundation’s artistic advisory board, all of whom are established and well-known key figures of the international professional music scene. Additionally, the foundation will announce an opening once every year for potential candidates to submit their own application.

In these difficult times, in which the pandemic ravaged and restricted possibilities for artists on every imaginable level, the young generation is especially in need of support. Young, up-and-coming artists in particular are facing drastic and consequential uncertainty as to where things are headed. In times of crisis, necessary help is in short supply. This is all the more reason for donors and partners of the LISA BATIASHVILI FOUNDATION to contribute where talent is great but need most dire, by their efforts and attention actively and sustainably shaping the future of music.