Edvard Tchivzhel

Internationally acclaimed conductor, Maestro Edvard Tchivzhel currently serves as Music Director and Conductor of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra (GSO), U.S.A.

"Maestro Tchivzhel is, simply put, a master... his music-making is indisputably commanding and communicative," wrote Yo-Yo Ma after performing with Tchivzhel and the GSO.

Born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg, Russia), Edvard Tchivzhel graduated from the Leningrad Conservatoire with the highest distinction in the areas of piano and conducting, and completed three more years of postgraduate study at the Conservatoire’s Higher Academy of Music in the prestigious conducting classes of Arvid Jansons. While still a student, Tchivzhel scored a remarkable success by winning the Third Soviet Conductor’s Competition in Moscow. He worked as Assistant Conductor to the legendary conductor Yevgeni Mravinsky with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, where he became a permanent guest conductor. He has led the Moscow Philharmonic, the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra, Leningrad’s Kirov Theatre of Opera and Ballet, as well as many other orchestras throughout the former U.S.S.R.

In 1973, Tchivzhel became Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Karelian Symphony Orchestra of National Television and Radio, a position he held until 1991.

Tchivzhel’s career achieved international status with appearances in England, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Scandinavia, and Australia. He served as Music Director of the Umeå Sinfonietta, Sweden, and performed with the symphony orchestras of Helsinborg, Malmö, Norrköpping and the Stockholm Philharmonic.

As associate conductor of the U.S.S.R. State Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Tchivzhel toured widely, scoring great success during a tour in Japan in 1990. In February 1991, Tchivzhel was enthusiastically received during a tour of the State Russian Symphony Orchestra in the United States. Following this tour, he defected to the U.S and was granted an American citizenship.

Since 1991, Maestro Tchivzhel began his regular appearances with orchestras of New Zealand, where he also served as the Musical Advisor and Principal conductor of The Auckland Philharmonic.

In America, Tchivzhel took his first position as the Music Director of the Atlantic Sinfonietta, NY, then for 15 years served as the Music Director of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Indiana. He was appointed the Music Director of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, S.C. in 1999.

Tchivzhel continues extensive guest conducting appearances in America, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Spain, Italy, China and Romania. Maestro made his debut with QSO in 2010 with return engagements in 2011, 2012, 2013. As well as his most recent engagement in 2014, and he has been invited back to Australia for an exciting collaboration with QSO in 2015.