For Nicolas Namoradze, performing, composing and studying the mind are closely connected pursuits. The pianist, composer and researcher joins the Althafen Foundation’s Artist in Spotlight programme for 2026/2027, bringing a distinctive interest in how we make and experience music.

Born in Tbilisi and raised in Budapest, Nicolas came to international attention after winning the Honens International Piano Competition in 2018. He has since performed at Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall and Konzerthaus Berlin, and appeared with orchestras including the London Philharmonic and Budapest Festival Orchestra.

Nicolas Namoradze’s Neurorecital brings his musical and scientific interests together on stage. As he plays, audiences see visualisations of brain activity, drawn from research and synchronised with the live performance. The experience offers a glimpse into the concentration, memory and imagination involved in making music, adding another dimension to listening.

As a composer, Nicolas has received commissions from Wigmore Hall and the BBC, the Schnabel Foundation and the Tbilisi International Piano Competition. His doctoral research into musical perception was published as the book Ligeti’s Macroharmonies. Nicolas is also a faculty member at the CUNY Graduate Center.

Through the Artist in Spotlight programme, the Althafen Foundation supports Nicolas Namoradze as he pursues his artistic path, develops new ideas and brings his music to audiences around the world.