2009 IBLA GRAND PRIZE TOP PRIZE WINNER pianist Tamara Licheli was born on the 8th of November, 1978, in Tbilisi, Georgia. She began to study music at the Tbilisi 5th Musical School at the age of 5 years. In 1992 she was enrolled in the Z. Paliashvili Musical College and in 1996 in the Tbilisi V. Sarajishvili State Conservatory, where she successfully graduated from the Bachelor Department, Magistracy and Post-Graduate Study at Professor T. Amirejibi.

Tamara Licheli is a prize-winner and laureate of many republic and international competitions: in 1995 she got the Diploma at the International Competition in Göttingen (Germany), in 1996- the Special Prize for the best performance of Haydn compositions at the Ettlingen International Competition (Germany), in 1997- the First Prize at the Markopoulo International Competition (Greece), in 1999-the Third Prize and Special Prize for best performance of Debussy compositions at “Konzerteum-99” (Greece), in 2003-the First Prize at the Competition of Georgian Musicians, in 2009-the Second prize at  Bradshaw&Buono international competition (USA), in the same year she became the top winner of “Ibla Grand Prize” competition in Ragusa-Ibla (Italy) and recieved  Ravel special mention, Davitashvili special mention and certificate of the “most distinguished musician”. Additionally in 1999-2000-2001 Tamara Licheli was a holder of Georgian President’s Scholarship, in 2000 she got the scholarship of the Tbilisi City Hall, in 2004 -the scolarship of Italian government and in 2009-the scolarship of German government.

In 1997 Professor Hans Leygraf invited Tamara Licheli to his master-classes, which were carried out in Darmstadt, Germany. In 1998 concerts of Tamara Licheli were held out in USA, Taiwan, Switzerland, Germany and Republic of South Africa.

In 2004 Tamara Licheli passed probation at the Santa Cecilia National Academy with Professor Sergio Perticaroli (Italy,Rome). The same year she carried out concerts in Rome and took part in Foja International Festival. For the last years concert activity of Tamara Licheli was especially productive. She performs as a soloist and also as a member of a chamber ensemble. Since 2006 she carries out concerts together with well-known violinist Liana Isakadze in Georgia and France; since the same year she participates in International Festival of Chamber Music, where she performs with various chamber ensembles, including the Georgian State Quartet (Georgia, Tbilisi), In 2007-2008-in the International Festival “From Easter to Ascension Day” (Georgia, Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi), in 2009-in international festival “night serenades” (Georgia, Batumi). in 2007 she performs together with Professor of the Moscow Conservatory, violinist Marina Iashvili; the same year she carries out concerts together with the State Quartet in various regions of Georgia.

Tamara Licheli collaborates with conductors Revaz Takidze, Jansug Kakhidze, Vakhtang Kakhidze, Davit Mukeria, David del Pino-Klinge.

It is necessary to emphasize that Tamara Licheli is the first performer of several Georgian compositions such as Conecrt-Symphony by F.Glonti (with Georgian State Orchestra), Piano quintet by V.Azarashvili (with Opera quartet), Piano trio by G.Chlaidze, Sonata by M.Davitashvili, Piano pieces by O.Tatishvili, etc. Nowadays Tamara Licheli is an assistant professor of the Tbilisi State Conservatory.