Hadzhera Avidzba

Hadzhera Avidzba
Background information
Born24 January 1917
Abkhazia
Died20 August 1997(1997-08-20) (aged 80)
GenresClassical
Occupation(s)Musician, Teacher
InstrumentPiano
Years active1934–1979

Hadzhera Avidzba, Russian: Хаджера Авидзба (24 January 1917 – 20 August 1997) was Abkhazia's first professional female pianist. She was a teacher, as well as a performer, and was Head of Lvov Musical College from 1951–1965.

Biography

Avidzba, along with her twin sister Meri, was born on 24 January 1917.[1] In 1930 a new Musical Technical School was opened in Sukhumi.[2] One of its first graduates in 1934 was Avidzba, who specialised in piano.[2] Following her graduation, she began her career as a piano teacher working there, making her Abkhazia's first female professional pianist.[3]

During the Great Patriotic War, Avidzba performed in hospitals for wounded soldiers.[citation needed] She continued to teach alongside her war work until 1946, when she moved to Lviv to teach at the conservatoire there.[citation needed] From 1951 to 1965 she was head of Lviv Musical College, after which period she continued to teach there.[citation needed] She was a leading figure in the formation and development of Abkhazian musical culture.[4]

Avidzba's performance repertoire included works by Mozart, Schumann, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, amongst others.[citation needed] She died on 20 August 1997.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Fearless navigator Meri Avidzba". Abaza.org. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Газета "Республика Абхазия" | Рубрики". Gazeta-ra.info. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  3. ^ "В небе "ночная ведьма" – Мери Авидзба". Яндекс Дзен | Платформа для авторов, издателей и брендов. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  4. ^ a b АБХАЗСКИЙ БИОГРАФИЧЕСКИЙ СЛОВАРЬ (PDF). Moscow: АбИГИ. 2015. p. 25.