Born in 1959 in Tbilisi into a family of musicians, Vakhtang Kakhidze studied composition at the Moscow State Conservatory under Nikolai Sidelnikov and Edison Denisov. He has been chief conductor of the Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Director of the Djansug Kakhidze Tbilisi Centre for Music & Culture since 2002. His Requiem (2021), blending classical tradition with Georgian musical culture, had its world premiere at the Queen Elisabeth Hall in Antwerp in November 2023. He has collaborated with Gidon Kremer, José Carreras, Nino Surguladze, and many other distinguished artists. His works are performed across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.