Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Sofia started singing at a very early age. Her mother who was a big push to her in her singing career. Sofia graduated with honors from the Musical Academy under the Tbilisi State Conservatory where she studied piano and vocals. She later continued her studies at the Academy of Theatre and Arts in Russia and graduated with honors from the Gnessin State Musical College in Moscow. Through her singing she has brought international attention to Georgia.
Music career
Sofia's vocal range is light lyric soprano. At the age of three, Nizharadze started performing as a professional with very positive reception. At the age of seven she was invited by Jansug Kakhidze, a prominent Georgian conductor and author of famous sound tracks for Georgian cinema, to join a children's music studio where she took the lead as a vocalist for various shows and TV projects. At age 11, she performed "Sous le ciel de Paris" at the French Embassy, where she was noticed by journalist Bernard Pivot who invited her to his program on TV5. By the time she turned 17 years old, Nizharadze had won several international young singer's contests, including the "Bravo, Bravissimo!" competition in Mini La Scala, "Crystal Note" and "Crystal Fur-tree". She participated in several festivals in Russia, Turkey, Italy, Latvia and Georgia. Later, she took leading parts in the musicals "The Wedding of the Jays" and "Roméo et Juliette, de la Haine à l'Amour". Living in Moscow at that moment she started gaining international recognition as a singer. In 2004, she got a main part in Gerard Presgurvic's musical. In 2005, she reached the final in the New Wave Festival in Jūrmala, Latvia. In 2008, Nizharadze gave up her career in Russia and returned to Georgia due to the war between the two countries. She performed The National Anthem of United States of America during Vice President Joe Biden's official visit to Georgia.
Sofia Nizharadze was chosen by GPB to represent Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. An open call for songs was launched, and over 100 entries submitted, the broadcasting authorities selected six, that were all performed by her in a national final on 27 February in the Tbilisi Even Hall. Shine was voted as the winner.
2010: After Eurovision
Nizharadze will release her new album soon. She will also continue promoting her Eurovision entry in Georgia. Sofia performs at events throughout Europe and Asia. She sang duets with legendary singers José Carreras, Andrea Bocelli, Chris de Burgh and Julio Iglesias. in 2013 she recorded a single "When We Danced." She released a new album with this single and also with Eurovision Song Contest hit "Shine" in March 2014. In 2016 she will take part as a judge at the Georgian format of X Factor alongside Nika Gvaramia, Nina Sublatti and Giorgi Gabunia.
Awards and achievements
1995– "Crystal fir tree", the international festival nominated at the "Best Vocal" category
1996– Special award – "The League", the first Georgian festival; award owner at the festival Mini La Scala
1997– Participant of "Crystal note" International Festival in Moscow
1999– Diploma of the First category for the best vocal within the frame of the festival "Pushkin weeks"; Diploma of the Tbilisi Mayor's Office for the "Unique vocal features”
1998– 2001- Scholarship of President Eduard Shevardnadze
2000– "Golden Star" for the best vocal granted by Forte Cinematographic Studio and Star Scale Studio
2003– 2004 – Leading part in the musical "The Wedding of the Jays”
2011 performed with the world class tenor Andrea Bocelli
2012 performed a duet with Julio Iglesias
The main role in the first Georgian musical Keto and Kote One of the main roles in Rezo Gigineishvili Movie "Love with an Accent" The film's release 2013
