The ensemble Dziriani was founded in 2011, and all of its 15 members are young people originally from the Georgian region of Racha. Dziriani is the only group whose aims are to revive and popularize Rachan folklore with their traditions and performances, as it used to be in everyday practice. Dziriani’s repertoire is based on old archival recordings and the material collected by its director during his folk field expeditions. The ensemble performs lesser known old Rachan songs and dances in the traditional manner with the accompaniment of musical instruments such as the chianuri, stviri, daira and garmoni.
Group leader
 Tornike Skhiereli | Tornike Skhiereli has directed Dziriani since 2011. He has rich experience in folklore and ethnography, and actively collaborates with various other folk ensembles. For his contribution in the popularization of Georgian folklore, the President of Georgia awarded Tornike with the order “For Civil Devotion”. Tornike is an active participant of national and international ethno-musicological conferences, festivals and concerts. He is the founder and director of the studio “Voices of Future”, a member of ensemble Sakhioba. Heteaches at the National School of Folklore and directs choir of singers and chanters at St. Andrew the First-Called University. He also leads workshops for Georgian and foreign amateur singers in Georgia and abroad. |
Group Members
 Tamar Skhiereli | |
 Iuri Beshidze | |
 Gvantsa Metreveli | |
 Lasha Svani | |
 Ana Bakuradze | |
 Irakli Kereselidze | |
 Nikoloz Gagnidze | |
 Tariel Khutsishvili | |
 Zaza Sultanishvili | |
 Matsatso Bliadze | |
 Givi Khvedeliani |