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Nino Sanikidze
principal coach, studio artists
Prior to joining the prestigious Shepherd School of Music as Artist Teacher of Opera Studies in the fall of 2023, Georgian pianist Nino Sanikidze spent nearly two decades at Los Angeles Opera (LAO) - both as a Head Coach for the renowned Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program, and as a principal coach, pianist, and prompter for LAO’s main-stage productions.
Highly in demand as a guest coach, pianist, and prompter, Dr. Sanikidze has been engaged for numerous productions at Teatro Real in Madrid, Spain; Teatro di San Carlo in Napoli, Italy; Royal Opera House Muscat, Oman; Teatro Municipal di Santiago, Chile; Bard Summerscape Festival in New York; Wichita Grand Opera, and Cleveland Opera.
A frequent collaborator with the Broad Stage in Santa Monica, her notable concert appearances include recitals with tenor Marcelo Álvarez and mezzo-soprano Elina Garanča. She has also performed in recital with world-renown guitarist Ángel Romero at “Palm Springs Life Festival”, mezzo-soprano Nancy Fabiola Herrera on Canary Islands’ “Zarzuela en el Mundo” recital tour and, most recently, with superstar tenor Joseph Calleja at “Festival del Sole”. Since 2008 Dr. Sanikidze has been an official pianist for the “Operalia” World Opera Competition and in this capacity has performed on some of the world's most celebrated stages.
Dr. Sanikidze serves on a judging panel of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition and Richard Tucker Music Foundations’ Study and Career Grant Auditions, as well as the Daegu International Opera Awards, Palm Springs Opera Guild Competition, Classical Singer Convention, Music Center Spotlight Awards, and Center Stage Opera Competition. A sought-after clinician, she regularly visits Universities and Conservatories for masterclasses and residencies. She has served on the faculty at the Music Academy of the West since 2014.
Dr. Sanikidze is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Marilyn Horne Foundation Award for Excellence in Vocal Accompanying.