Bidzina Kvernadze

Bidzina Kvernadze (Georgian: ბიძინა კვერნაძე), (29 July 1928, Sighnaghi, Georgia, – 8 July 2010, Tbilisi), was a Georgian composer. Bidzina was born in Sighnaghi, the Kakheti region of former Soviet Georgia to Alexander Kvernadze, a pharmacist, and Nino Nadirashvili, a music teacher. In 1948, Bidzina presented his musical works to Examination Commission, and he was accepted to the Tbilisi State Conservatoire with the highest score. He finished the composition class in 1958, taught by Andria Balanchivadze. In the same year he was accepted as a member of the Union of Soviet Composers. Among his honors are the title of "People's Artist of the USSR" (1979), the "Z. Paliashvili Prize" (1981, for My Entreaty, Old Georgian Inscriptions and Vocal-Symphonic Poem) and the "Shota Rustaveli State Prize" (1985, Opera "And it was in the eighth year"). He was also named an Honorary Citizen of Tbilisi (1995).