The Boys Folk Chapel
Iuza Kublashvili founded the chapel in 1965 and led it for 24 years (1965-1989). The choirmaster was Soso Falavandishvili. He was a pioneer of this type of choral art in the former USSR at the time. Tsitsi Palavandishvili, a gifted musician and conductor, has led the capella since 1981 and continues to do so today. It was in the GTU’s Boys’ Chapel that this artists began their creative journey: “Big Theatre” soloists Zurab Sotkilava, Paata Burchuladze, State Opera soloists Temur Gugushvili, Gia (Jarji) Asatiani, Berlin Opera soloist Mikheil Bakhtadze, tenor competition laureate Mikheil Silagadze, “Tsisferi Trio” – Davit Abesadze, Tamaz Seferteladze, Malkhaz Tavartkiladze.
“Trio Tbilisi” – Zaza Mamaladze, Revaz Guniava, Nugzar Apkhaidze.
“Trio Simi” – Zaza Bokveradze, Rezo Gelashvili, Zurab Tskitishvili;
Ensemble “Mgzavrebi” – Gigi Dedalamazishvili, Lasha Dokhnadze, Dato Gogelia, Bezhan Amiranashvili, Guga Kublashvili. The founder and Kapellmeister of the ensemble “Shavnabada” – Davit Gogelia, Bakuradze brothers, members of “Kartuli Khmebi”, “Alilo” ensemble singer – Zurab Datikashvili, “Bonus” ensemble – Paata Meladze. It is hard to find a folk ensemble in Georgia (such as “Erisioni” or “Rustavi” ensembles, or folk groups and ensembles from other Georgian areas) where the former boys’ chapel members did not sing. Tsitsino Palavandishvili was given the Order of Honour by the President of Georgia in 1998 for his personal commitment to student-youth education and productive creative work. Under her direction, the chapel won several international contests and festivals, including the “Grand-Prix” International Folklore Festival in Vilnius in 1984, the “Grand-Prix” competition for boys’ teams “Rigas Gailis” in Latvia in 1989, and the audience sympathy prize in 1990 at the same competition. International folklore competition (Tbilisi, 1991); “Grand-Prix” International Folklore Festival (Poland, Poznan, 1997); “Grand-Prix” International Folklore Festival (Greece, K. Rhodes 2005); “Universiada 2022” first place winners (Tbilisi, 2022); “Grand-Prix” International Student Festival (Lithuania, Vilnius 1990);
The boy’s folk chapel is accompanied by a vocal quartet and ensemble. Cappella and the accompanying vocal group performed with success in Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Italy, Finland, the Baltic States, Ukraine, and Russia in addition to in Georgia.
The boy’s public chapel at GTU was renamed in honour of Iuza Kublashvili in 2018.