“GTU – Star 2026” – Semi-Final of the Student Music Competition at GTU

The semi-final of the popular student music competition – “GTU Star 2026” – “Retro Tour” was held at the Ivane Javakhishvili Great Hall of the Georgian Technical University, in which the seven best student vocalists who won the first round of this youth event participated.

The university project “GTU Star”, which is organized with the support of the Rector, Academician David Gurgenidze, the GTU administration, and the student self-government, is dedicated to the memory of Goga Giorgobiani, a graduate of the Georgian Technical University, one of the leaders of the university’s youth in the 90s of the last century.

“GTU Star”, which has gained significant popularity among students, has been successfully implemented at the Georgian Technical University since 2013. The author of the project is Natia Ivanashvili, and the organizer, with the author, is the GTU Department of Culture and Sports of the Student Services. The musical director of “GTU Star 2026” is musician Ketevan Odzelashvili; the participants are evaluated by a 5-member jury, the fifth member of which changes depending on the specifics of the musical genre of each tour.

The students participating in the semi-final “Retro Tour” of the competition – Nini Imnadze from the Faculty of Informatics and Control Systems, Nini Japaridze and Temuka Tsintsadze from the Faculty of Architecture, Urbanism and Design, Rusa Melikidze and Mariam Narimanidze from the Faculty of Business Technologies, Nurana Shiukashvili from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Ikako Aleksidze from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Chemical Technologies, accompanied by a live band, revived the vocal and performing heritage of the Georgian Technical University and performed before the audience with Georgian and foreign hits from the 50s-70s of the last century, which were successfully performed by students of the Georgian Polytechnic Institute of that time – famous Georgian pop singers.

As Levan Pipia, Head of the GTU Student Services, Culture and Sports Department, notes, by the decision of the jury competition, only five of the seven best performers will participate in the final round of “GTU Star”.

“This year’s “GTU Star” turned out to be exceptionally interesting and tense, because the students participating in the competition really stand out with their vocal data, talent, and performance style. The entire university is cheering for the participants – organized groups of fans have been created for this purpose. They know very well that any competition is based on the principle of competition; nevertheless, we are very saddened by the jury’s decision, as two performers were eliminated from the competition after the semi-final round. So, we are looking forward to the final round, in which students: Temuka Tsintsadze, Rusa Melikidze, Mariam Narimanidze, Nini Imnadze, and Ikako Aleksidze will participate. We wish our youth success,” says Levan Pipia.

According to Natia Ivanashvili, the author of the university youth project, “GTU Star” is held annually to promote student involvement in cultural and creative activities, discover talented young performers, and support and promote them.

“It is no coincidence that “GTU Star” has become one of the most popular student projects at the Georgian Technical University. The competition allows the youth to present their talents to a wide audience, gain experience performing on stage, and take the first steps towards developing their performing skills. It is especially gratifying that more and more talented students are joining this process every year, and the university competition is becoming a real creative platform where music, emotion, and youthful energy come together. We are confident that with the support of the university rector and administration, “GTU Star” will continue to be a space that will give young people the opportunity to demonstrate their talents and skills, which will make their student life much more diverse and interesting,” notes Natia Ivanashvili.

It is worth noting that on March 26th, at the final event of “GTU Star”, the jury will announce the two winners of the competition – the “GTU Star” of 2026 and the performer who takes second place. As for the “GTU Star” gala concert, all contestants will participate in it.