Biography
Vladimir Magalashvili is a Berlin-based concert organist whose work moves between the classical organ repertoire, contemporary music and new concert formats. His artistic focus lies not only in the instrument’s historical repertoire, but also in exploring what the pipe organ can become today — through electronics, new music, collaboration and interdisciplinary projects.
His path to music was anything but conventional. Before devoting himself fully to a musical career, Magalashvili trained as a chemist and worked in a research group at the N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry in Moscow. At the same time, he began studying organ and piano professionally at the Academic Music College of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory with Prof. Galina Semenova. The combination of scientific training and music continues to inform an artistic approach shaped by curiosity, precision and experimentation.
In 2019, he completed his Master’s degree in organ at the Universität der Künste Berlin, where he studied with Prof. Leo van Doeselaar, Erwin Wiersinga and Prof. Paolo Crivellaro. In the same year, he completed his studies at the N. G. Zhiganov Conservatory in Kazan with Prof. Rubin Abdullin, graduating with distinction.
Magalashvili performs internationally as a soloist and in collaboration with orchestras and ensembles. He has appeared at venues including the Berliner Philharmonie, Konzerthaus Berlin and Wiener Konzerthaus, as well as at international organ festivals. His collaborations include the Berliner Philharmoniker at Musikfest Berlin, the RIAS Kammerchor Berlin, and conductors Jonathan Nott, Teodor Currentzis and Ben Palmer.
His repertoire reaches from early music and the German and French organ traditions to premieres, contemporary works and his own arrangements. Working closely with living composers has become an important part of his artistic practice and has resulted in commissions, premieres and works written for or dedicated to him, including music by Boris Filanovsky, Michael Bonaventure and Aigerim Seilova. A particular focus of his work is Organ & Electronics. In these programmes, the acoustic pipe organ remains at the centre while electronic sound opens new colours, textures and spatial possibilities. Rather than treating electronics as an effect added to the instrument, Magalashvili uses them as part of a broader musical language, connecting the organ with contemporary repertoire, new arrangements and different listening experiences.
Since 2019, he has been organist of the Babylon Orchestra Berlin, performing in live screenings with composed film scores. Silent film also forms an independent strand of his work: as a solo improviser, he accompanies films on both organ and piano, including F. W. Murnau’s Nosferatu.
In 2022, Magalashvili founded Organ · Percussion · Light · Electronics (OPLE), a modular interdisciplinary concert project of which he is artistic director. Bringing together organ, percussion and electronics with changing visual and spatial concepts, OPLE reflects a broader idea that runs through his work: the organ as an instrument with a long history, but also as a living medium capable of entering new artistic contexts.
His path to music was anything but conventional. Before devoting himself fully to a musical career, Magalashvili trained as a chemist and worked in a research group at the N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry in Moscow. At the same time, he began studying organ and piano professionally at the Academic Music College of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory with Prof. Galina Semenova. The combination of scientific training and music continues to inform an artistic approach shaped by curiosity, precision and experimentation.
In 2019, he completed his Master’s degree in organ at the Universität der Künste Berlin, where he studied with Prof. Leo van Doeselaar, Erwin Wiersinga and Prof. Paolo Crivellaro. In the same year, he completed his studies at the N. G. Zhiganov Conservatory in Kazan with Prof. Rubin Abdullin, graduating with distinction.
Magalashvili performs internationally as a soloist and in collaboration with orchestras and ensembles. He has appeared at venues including the Berliner Philharmonie, Konzerthaus Berlin and Wiener Konzerthaus, as well as at international organ festivals. His collaborations include the Berliner Philharmoniker at Musikfest Berlin, the RIAS Kammerchor Berlin, and conductors Jonathan Nott, Teodor Currentzis and Ben Palmer.
His repertoire reaches from early music and the German and French organ traditions to premieres, contemporary works and his own arrangements. Working closely with living composers has become an important part of his artistic practice and has resulted in commissions, premieres and works written for or dedicated to him, including music by Boris Filanovsky, Michael Bonaventure and Aigerim Seilova. A particular focus of his work is Organ & Electronics. In these programmes, the acoustic pipe organ remains at the centre while electronic sound opens new colours, textures and spatial possibilities. Rather than treating electronics as an effect added to the instrument, Magalashvili uses them as part of a broader musical language, connecting the organ with contemporary repertoire, new arrangements and different listening experiences.
Since 2019, he has been organist of the Babylon Orchestra Berlin, performing in live screenings with composed film scores. Silent film also forms an independent strand of his work: as a solo improviser, he accompanies films on both organ and piano, including F. W. Murnau’s Nosferatu.
In 2022, Magalashvili founded Organ · Percussion · Light · Electronics (OPLE), a modular interdisciplinary concert project of which he is artistic director. Bringing together organ, percussion and electronics with changing visual and spatial concepts, OPLE reflects a broader idea that runs through his work: the organ as an instrument with a long history, but also as a living medium capable of entering new artistic contexts.
New Music / Works written for Vladimir
Working with living composers is an important part of Vladimir Magalashvili’s artistic practice. These collaborations have resulted in commissions, premieres and works written for or dedicated to him, ranging from solo organ music to pieces with electronics and ensemble works.
Works written for or dedicated to Vladimir:
Anastasia Sidorkina (1991*)
Fantasia “Rhea” (2015) for trumpet, harp, organ and strings (Dedicated to Vladimir Magalashvili)
Watch →
Sergey Neller (1986*)
Hymne für Orgel (2019) (Dedicated to Vladimir Magalashvili)
Watch →
Boris Filanovsky (1968*)
Supremus 4 (2022) for organ solo (For Vladimir Magalashvili)
Watch →
Anna Vavilkina (1978*)
Walzer in D (Dedicated to Vladimir Magalashvili)
Michael Bonaventure (1962*)
Prelude XV (2022) for organ (For Vladimir Magalashvili)
Interlude XV (2022) for organ (For Vladimir Magalashvili)
Postlude XV (2022) for organ (For Vladimir Magalashvili)
Omega (2023) for organ and fixed electronics (Dedicated to Vladimir Magalashvili)
Watch →
Aigerim Seilova (1987*)
Radiance (2025) for organ and electronics (Commissioned by and dedicated to Vladimir Magalashvili)
Works written for or dedicated to Vladimir:
Anastasia Sidorkina (1991*)
Fantasia “Rhea” (2015) for trumpet, harp, organ and strings (Dedicated to Vladimir Magalashvili)
Watch →
Sergey Neller (1986*)
Hymne für Orgel (2019) (Dedicated to Vladimir Magalashvili)
Watch →
Boris Filanovsky (1968*)
Supremus 4 (2022) for organ solo (For Vladimir Magalashvili)
Watch →
Anna Vavilkina (1978*)
Walzer in D (Dedicated to Vladimir Magalashvili)
Michael Bonaventure (1962*)
Prelude XV (2022) for organ (For Vladimir Magalashvili)
Interlude XV (2022) for organ (For Vladimir Magalashvili)
Postlude XV (2022) for organ (For Vladimir Magalashvili)
Omega (2023) for organ and fixed electronics (Dedicated to Vladimir Magalashvili)
Watch →
Aigerim Seilova (1987*)
Radiance (2025) for organ and electronics (Commissioned by and dedicated to Vladimir Magalashvili)
