Veriko Tchumburidze

Which people would you invite as guests to your dream dinner party?

Salvador Dali, Johann Sebastian Bach and Malala Yousafzai

What is your favorite meal?

Eggplant with walnuts.

Do you have a favorite motto or proverb that you live your life by?

View life from different perspectives and explore it through all its colourful facets.

Which person or people inspire you the most?

I get more inspired by painters and writers than musicians. Therefore there are a lot of people!

If you were 80 years old, what advice would you give to young people today?

No matter how difficult life is, there always be people on yourside, who believe in you and do not forget to enjoy life.

What would you like people to say about you?

Actually, I have never thought about that. But if I have to say something, I would like them to talk about my musicianship.

How do you overcome the stage fright? / What is your ritual before going on stage?

Since I give a lot of concerts, I have overcome this fright but of course there will always be a little stage fright, which gives me an extra dynamism. I don’t have a special ritual before going on stage. The most important thing is not to be tired and that I am totally concentrated.

When you perform... who are you playing for?

I am playing for all the listeners to give them a fulfilment and joy to the music.

What job would you least like to do?

Pilot or sailor.

Is there a joke about musicians that you would like to share with us?

What's the "most played" non-classical track on your phone?

Don’t Worry Be Happy - Bobby Mcferrin.

You are on a desert island and can bring only 3 items, what do you bring?

I would bring a tent, a mobile phone which has signal from everywhere and a camel.

What is your favorite noise/sound? What is the most annoying noise for you?

Strangely, I love the sound of crickets very much. Furthermore my sister’s laughter and birdsong are my favourite sounds. When I am working, low quality sound is the most annoying noise for me.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I would love to live in Sidney, Australia.

What is the first thing you think about when you hear the word Tchaikovsky?

The first thing I think about is my childhood and Tchaikovsky’s ballet music. Since I was little, I have a special affinity for Tchaikovsky. On the day of my birth my mother gave a concert with the orchestra and her labour began during the concert when she plays Tchaikovsky’s 5th symphony. When I was 1 ½ years old, I started with ballet without any help and each time I was listening to Tchaikovsky I started to dance. Also the first international music competition I won was the Tchaikovsky International Competition for Young Musicians.

What is the first thing you think about when you hear the word competition?

Performance. Also the happiness and excitement to get to know new people and to be able to give my best.