The Tbilisi State Conservatoire was the first European-type musical higher education institution not only in Georgia but in the Caucasus as a whole. The Conservatoire has a rich history of creativity, a flourishing concert life including performances by Leopold Auer, Sergei Rachmaninov, Anton Rubinstein, Henryk Wieniawski and hundreds of other luminaries and an star-studded list of alumni including legendary bass Feyodor Chaliapin. This new book traces the history of this famous institution over the last 80 years including its ups, downs and persistent quest for musical and human excellence.