Artistic Profile

Grigol Kobakhidze (b. 1996) began his classical training as a pianist, graduating from the Central Music School in Tbilisi, Georgia, performing Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto with orchestra. Following choir conducting studies at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire (2014–2016) and the Norwegian Academy of Music (2016–2017), he pursued orchestral conducting at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, Germany, under Prof. Alexander Rumpf. He earned his Bachelor's degree in 2019, conducting Sergey Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and Alexander Borodin's Polovtsian Dances, followed by a Master's in 2022 featuring Stravinsky’s Firebird orchestral suite and Camille Saint-Saëns' Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso.

During his academic years, he led various orchestras such as the Philharmonie Südwestfalen and the Bergische Symphoniker. He also organized projects with the HfMT Cologne Student Orchestra several times, gathering his fellow students and close friends to premiere his own compositions. Deeply embedded in the NRW orchestral landscape, he has guest conducted across the region and served as Assistant Conductor for the Uni-Köln Symphony Orchestra. Dedicated to music education, Grigol founded the Youth Sinfonietta of the Rheinische Musikschule der Stadt Köln in 2024, guiding young talents through diverse repertoire and his own arrangements. In 2025, he was appointed Chief Conductor of the Collegium Musicum der Stadt Brühl.

Grigol's repertoire spans from the Baroque to New Music, including symphony, opera, chamber music, modern film scores, Big Band arrangements, and his favourite concerto collaborations with soloists. Drawing on his early choral studies, he is also proficient in vocal repertoire, including large-scale choral-orchestral works, and a cappella music. Though primarily focused on orchestral conducting, he remains loyal to his instrument as an active pianist. Whether leading an ensemble or performing at the keyboard, he tries to bring the public joy and a deeper love for music. Alongside his artistic commitments, Grigol regularly teaches and is dedicated to passing his knowledge on to younger generations (for more details, please visit the Pedagogy page).