The Boys' Folk Choir of the Georgian Technical University, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, performed a concert for the university community and guests.
The Boys’ Folk Choir was founded in 1965 by Yuza Kublashvili, who led it for 24 years, from 1965 to 1989. During this period, the choirmaster of the creative group was Soso Palavandishvili. Since 1981, the university choir has been led by musician and conductor Tsitsino Palavandishvili for 44 years.
According to Badri Lebanidze, Head of the Culture Department of the GTU Student Services, Culture, and Sports Department, the love of music and singing at the university has created a strong tradition, which the Boys’ Folk Chapel continues with dignity.

“For 60 years, many generations of students, leaders, and associates have created the Boys' Public Capella, where Zurab Sotkilava, Paata Burchuladze, State Opera soloists Temur Gugushvili, Gia (Jarji) Asatiani began their creative path; Berlin Opera soloist Mikheil Bakhtadze; Tenors Competition laureate Mikheil Silagadze; “Blue Trio” - Davit Abesadze, Tamaz Sepherteladze, Malkhaz Tavartkiladze; “Trio Tbilisi” - Zaza Mamaladze, Remaz Guniava, Nugzar Apkhaidze; Trio “Simma” - Zaza Vepkhvadze, Rezo Gelashvili, Zurab Tskitishvili; Ensemble “Mgzavrebi” - Gigi Dedalamazhishvili, Lasha Dokhnadze, Dato Gogelia, Bezhan Amiranashvili, Guga Kublashvili; Ensemble “Shavnabada” founder and Kapellmeister David Gogelia; Members of “Georgian Voices” - the Bakuradze brothers; Ensemble “Alilo” singer Zurab Datikashvili; Ensemble “Bonus” member Paata Meladze. It is difficult to find a folklore ensemble in Georgia where the graduates of the boys’ chapel did not sing - ensembles such as “Erisioni” and “Rustavi” folklore groups and ensembles from various regions of Georgia. Six decades have been a period of joy-filled work, concerts filled with love for the arts, and the building of cultural bridges, not only at the university but across the country and beyond. Music, singing, folk traditions, and unity, which our chapel has been cultivating for 60 years, form an organic part of the education that the Georgian Technical University offers to every young person. This is our uniqueness - we teach students not only engineering, technology, and science, but also instill a love for art. Continuing this path is a great responsibility for us. It is impossible not to emphasize the support of the rector of the Georgian Technical University. It was Academician David Gurgenidze who breathed new life into the chapel. Today, the boys’ choir is equipped with a rehearsal space, the necessary instruments, and a concert form, for which we would like to thank him - thank you for being with us! Thank you for appreciating art, culture, and Georgian singing. And many thanks to our university – for the soil where music and technology grow equally strong,” says Badri Lebanidze.
As the cultural direction coordinator of the Student Services, Culture and Sports Department, Tamar Gagnidze stated, at every stage of the existence of the Georgian Technical University, great attention has been paid to student creativity, which continues to this day.

The Georgian Technical University has long been recognized as a technological hub, marked by significant international scientific achievements. Additionally, it stands out for its rich cultural and creative traditions. I am proud to highlight that in Georgia, and likely in many other countries, no other university boasts such a wealth of indigenous creative groups! No student self-creative collective has ever earned the title of a state public collective, yet we have four such groups! This remarkable achievement would not have been possible without the support and assistance of the rectors and administration of the Polytechnic Institute, and now the Georgian Technical University. These traditions persist today. The university leadership, particularly our rector, actively encourages students to express their creative potential alongside their educational pursuits. The concert of the Boys’ Public Chapel exemplifies this support. It was a joyful occasion to see the younger generation performing on stage alongside seasoned singers. With the backing of the university administration and our rector, Mr. David, the cappella and other creative groups have been provided with all the necessary conditions for comfortable work, enabling us to represent our university with dignity both nationally and internationally!” says Tamar Gagnidze.
In 1998, Tsitsino Palavandishvili was awarded the Order of Honor by the decree of the President of Georgia for her contribution to the education of student youth and fruitful creative activity; in 2022, for her special contribution, the Rector of the Georgian Technical University, Academician David Gurgenidze, by the decision of the Academic Council, awarded Tsitsino Palavandishvili the GTU Gold Medal. During her leadership, the ensemble became a laureate of several international competitions and festivals: Grand Prix - International Folklore Festival (Vilnius, 1984); Grand Prix – Boys’ Choir Competition “Rigas Gailis” (Latvia, Riga 1989), and in 1990, at the same competition, the Audience Sympathy Prize; Grand Prix - International Student Festival (Lithuania, Vilnius, 1990); International Folklore Competition (Tbilisi, 1991); International Folklore Festival (Poland, Poznan, 1997); International Folklore Festival (Greece, Rhodes Island, 2005); First Place at the “Universiada 2022” (Tbilisi, 2022); The Boys’ Folk Choir has a vocal ensemble and a vocal quartet. The choir and its vocal ensemble have successfully held concerts in Georgia and abroad: in Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Italy, Finland, the Baltic States, Ukraine, and other countries. In 2011, the GTU Boys’ Folk Choir was named after Yuza Kublashvili.