The History of the Culture Center of TSMU
The students of Tbilisi State Medical University have always been distinguished by their talent and diverse activities in the arts. The georgian doctors were and still are among those who have chosen various fields of art as their second profession.
At the end of the 1940s, for the first time in Georgia, the first jazz orchestra was established at Tbilisi State Medical Institute (TSMI), under the direction of doctor Shota Arakishvili.
In the 50s and 60s, the doctors were the leading soloists of Zakaria Paliashvili Opera and Ballet Theater, as well as the soloists of the Sukhishvili Ensemble, the dancers - actors, the prose writers, the poets, the sculptors, the artists, the translators.
Many doctors have been filmed in various movies.
Many doctors, in addition to medicine, have graduated from the conservatory, art academies, theatrical university.
In the 70's and 80's, there were many famous and popular student pop ensembles at TSMI. Among them were: David Telia (Currently TSMU Professor) rock band, "Status Quo", "Rock Round", "PS", "Dens", the girls' quartet of the Faculty of Pharmacy, the quartet of the Faculty of Pediatrics, the Song and Dance Ensemble, a separate musician - performers and the Theater of the Faculty of Sanitary Hygiene.
In 1984, at the initiative of Tbilisi State Medical Institute students Badri Matchavariani and his friends formed a Song and Dance Ensemble, which from 1989 to 2018, performed with great success at World, European and International Festivals in various European countries and in 2019 in The United States, in the st. of Georgia, Atlanta, organized by the TSMU administration, Director of Educational Programs at Emory School of Medicine, Dr. Archil Undilashvili and Assistant Dean for Education, Professor Gordon Churchward, where the ensemble performed several solo concerts which was dedicated to the memory of a great friend of the University, Professor Ken Walker.
The ensemble has been awarded with the title of Honorary "National Ensemble" (1994 The Ministry of Culture), the title of the “Best Ensemble” (1996 - in Italy, 2013 and 2019 in Georgia). It is the owner of 3 golden medals, 7 main prizes at the UNESCO European Festivals and a Diploma of the "Festival under the auspices of the European Parliament". In 2001, American radio “Freedom Voice”, from The Czech Republic aired a special report on the ensemble's best performances and successes in Europe. The ensemble continues its successful creative activity at Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU) Culture Center.
In 1992, at the initiative of a group of the students at TSMU, the tim "Cosa Nostra" was formed. In the following years, the new generation successfully continues the traditions of the first generation and in a very short time, "Cosa Nostra" becomes the champion of Georgia again and the winner of the music festival. Today, many of them are successful doctors, both in Georgia and abroad, but some of them, along with their medical activities, made a name for themselves with music (T. Uzandze - in Germany), journalism and acting (O. Tatishvili), and Nikoloz Makhviladze successfully led the Georgian TV championship for many years. Giorgi Chichinadze, now an associate professor at TSMU, is the head of the public relations department.
In the same years, at the Medical University, the ensembles such as "Soft Eject" work and achieve great success on the modern scene, both in Georgia and abroad. The leader, TSMU student, nowadays one of the prominent representatives in the field of neurosurgery, Irakli Cheishvili and „Georgian Jazz - Sextet "- the head, TSMU student, the pediatrician, the talented musician - Murman (Buka) Kartozia.
In November 1998, by the decision of the TSMU Academic Council, the University Culture Center was established. Badri Matchavariani was appointed as a director, Giorgi Chichinadze was appointed as a artistic director.
Joining the Culture Center: The Song and Dance National Ensemble "Georgian Folklore" (the Artistic Director - Badri Matchavariani, the graduate of the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Chief Choreographer - Gela Mgeladze, the graduate of the Faculty of Sanitary Hygiene, the Maestro - David Uznadze, who was invited to the ensemble in 1992 by Badri Matchavariani ), the Funny and Savvy Team "Cosa Nostra".
In 1998, under the leadership of TSMU graduates (J. Janashia, G. Abkhazava, B. Cheishvili, D. Tabidze), it was erected in the big concert hall of the State Philharmonic and for many years, the concert program - "The Doctors do not joke" has been a great success in which all singers, dancers, pianists or solo performers were graduates of the Medical University. The singers, the dancers and the members of the Song and Dance National Ensemble and Funny and Savvy Team "Cosa Nostra" of TSMU Culture Center took part in this concert with great success.
In 1999, the Movement Theater "Impro" was established in the Culture Center. Tea Mamukelashvili was invited as the main director, Giorgi Sosanashvili as a choreographer. Their performances (Bistrup's humor - "Straight from the belly", "Either left or right", "Suitcase", "Crazy" and "Faust") were highly acclaimed, followed by numerous performances and foreign tours. Today, the theater is very successful in Germany. In the following years, Koba Shonia, a member of the theater and a graduate of TSMU, created and led a very popular dance, the Argentine tango style, and founded the Tango Academy in Georgia. He is the director and founder of the International Tango Festival. Some members of the theater, as well as TSMU graduate Irakli Gurgenidze, continued their creative activities with Mikhael Tumanishvili in the Film Actors' Theater, as a director and currently defending his doctoral degree in the field of film directing. Today, Irakli Gurgenidze is the director of the well-known musician, Mrs. Liana Isakadze’s International Festival "Serenades".
In 1999, Zakaria Paliashvili Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theater hosted a concert dedicated to the 70th anniversary of TSMU, organized entirely by the TSMU Culture Center (the Director B. Matchavariani, the Artistic Director G. Chichinadze) and by the members of the Funny and Savvy Team "Cosa Nostra" (G. Chumburidze, N. Makhviladze, K. Mosidze).
In 2000, the Culture center's Song and Dance National Ensemble - "Georgian Folklore" was separated and a separate singer men ensemble “Phesvebi” ("The Roots") was formed in the center (The leader – Mr. David Uznadze). Later, several members formed the ensemble “Shvidkatsa” ("Seven Men") which is still very popular with the audience. 4 out of 7 members of the ensemble "Shvidkatsa" are doctors: David Shishniashvili, Levan Tolordava, Giorgi Lomtatidze and David Nozadze.
In 2001, the Drama Theater "Hygia" was established (the founder and the main director is a student of TSMU, currently an associate professor of TSMU – Mrs. Natia Gujabidze). 19 seasons of the Theater “Hygia” was a great success at the TSMU Theater Hall. The theater also toured Turkey, Sweden, Azerbaijan and Monaco. Among the international student theaters, it won an honorable III place, which was undoubtedly a great recognition of the theatrical troupe and its director in the international arena. In 2012 at the initiative of the theater director, the Associate Professor Natia Gujabidze, the International Festival of Amateur Student Theaters - " The Mask" was established, which is held every year at the Medical University and the students of higher education institutions, both Georgian and foreign student theaters participate in it. Due to these successes, the Theater “Hygia” was awarded with the honorary title of the ” People's Theater”.
In 2004, at the initiative of the director of the Culture Center, a Modern and Ballroom Dance Ensemble "Vega" was formed (conducted by Mrs.- Ia Kvirikashvili and Mr.-David Kulumbegashvili). During its 16 years of existence, the ensemble has been actively involved in all concert programs of the TSMU Culture Center, holding numerous solo concerts, evenings and choreographic performances. In 2019, in the competition held during the student days in Georgia, the ensemble "Vega" won an honorable second place. The motto of the ensemble "Vega" is "Dance and be happy". Currently, the ensemble "Vega" is led by Mrs. Ia Kvirikashvili, the winner of many competitions of Georgia and the Caucasus, the winner of international competitions and the prize-winner in ballroom-sports dances.
From 2006 to November 2018, a Sports and Art Center was established at TSMU. In the mentioned center, sports and art groups were united. During this period the directors of the center were - Kakha Chumburidze, Nikoloz Makhviladze and Zaur Pkhaladze, Badri Matchavariani was appointed as the deputy director.
In 2006, a choir of singers giorls was formed at the Sports and Art Center, David Zakradze (TSMU graduate) was appointed as the head of the ensemble and later the ensemble was led by Paata Tsetskhladze, one of the prominent representatives of the young singer generation in Georgia, the soloist of the ensemble "Shavnabada".
In 2010, a grand concert dedicated to the 80th anniversary of TSMU was held at the Concert Hall of Tbilisi State Philharmonic, organized entirely by the TSMU Sport and Art Center (the deputy director B. Matchavariani) and TSMU graduates (J. Janashia, G. Abkhazava). TSMU foreign students from 19 countries took part in the jubilee concert for which a choreographic composition was specially staged (the staging choreographer - B. Matchavariani).
In 2011, at the initiative of Mr. David Ratiani, the Head of the folk instrumental group of the TSMU National Ensemble, a girls' traditional music ensemble "Deka" was established at the Sport and Art Center. The ensemble "Deka" performed for the first time on November 21, 2011 in the Assembly Hall of TSMU. The girls' performance was well received by the audience. The diligence of the girls and the leader paid off and the ensemble "Deka" is often invited to the concerts at TSMU, as well as to participate in various events in our capital: The Festival - "Artgen", Vazha-Pshavela Jubilee Evening, Channel I Radio, Kutaisi Opera and the Ballet Theater, on student days, at charitable events planned by the Embassies and the Georgian Patriarchate.
In the same year, at the initiative of the Deputy Director of the TSMU Sport and Art Center and students, a classical music group was formed at the center, led by Mr. Goderdzi Chitaishvili. Very soon, the classical music group successfully participated in the events of the TSMU Sport and Art Center. It should be noted that in addition to piano works, works for flute, cello, violin and vocals were performed at the concerts. The concert of the leader and members of the classical music group should be considered as a great success, on January 30, 2014, in the small hall of the Ivane Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatory. Our students, future doctors, presented a worthy program in front of the listeners and made a great impression on them. The concert featured works by Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Albinoni, Massenet, Chopin, Vivaldi, Saint-Saëns, Bach, Laghidze, Azarashvili and other classical musicians. Currently in the classical music group, training continues for the new generations of students who plan to succeed in both the medical field and the study of classical music.
In 2015, a Modern Songs Group was established at the Sport and Art Center. Mrs. Tamar Archvadze, a well-known professional musician in the Georgian music community, was invited by the Deputy Director of the Center to lead a modern songs group. The modern songs group was able to make a name for itself in a short period of time and participated with great success in all the concert programs planned by the Sport and Art Center. Georgian, French and English contemporary songs are often performed at these concerts by TSMU students.
The involvement of the foreign students in the cultural life of TSMU students is very important. These groups are coordinated at the Sport and Art Center by Mariam Matchavariani, a senior specialist of TSMU Sport and Art Center. Foreign students have been very successful in participating in the TSMU 80th Anniversary Evening at the Philharmonic, the TV show "Talented" and their frequent appearances at events organized by the TSMU Sport and Art Center. Traditional and national holidays of their countries were often celebrated at the TSMU Sport and Art Center.
From November 2018, by the decision of the leadership of TSMU, structural changes took place in the Sport and Art Center. TSMU Culture Center was established separately. Badri Matchavariani has been appointed as a director.
At the TSMU Culture Center, the Rector of TSMU - Mr. Zurab Vadatchkoria, the Chancellor - Mr. Zurab Orjonikidze, the University Administration, the Infrastructure Service, the Board of Representatives and the Student Self - Government make a great contribution to the success of the existing creative groups. Also noteworthy is the support of the TSMU newspaper and public relations department in advancing the activities of the Culture Center.