Bilkent Loses Family Member
Prof. Server Ganiyev, Faculty of Music and Performing Arts and concertmaster of Bilkent Symphony Orchestra, passed away on Saturday, September 4.
Ganiyev was a wonderful teacher, a valued colleague, and a good friend to many. He will be sorely missed. We wish to extend our condolences to the Ganiyev family and his students, colleagues, and friends.
A gathering to commemorate and pay tribute to Prof. Ganiyev was held on Monday, September 6 at the Bilkent Concert Hall. Funeral services were held in Baku.
Born in Baku, Server Ganiyev studied violin with Prof. Dimitri Tziganov at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music in Moscow. He attended the International Moscow Festival in 1957, winning First Prize. Several prizes were to follow the success he achieved during his studies, namely the “Distinguished Artists of the Caucasian Republics” prize in 1960 and the achievement award for artists of the “Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Competition” in 1961. Following his successful graduation from the Moscow Conservatory, Server Ganiyev continued his post-graduate studies from 1960 to 1963.
Having finished his education, Ganiyev was appointed to the Azerbaijan State Conservatory as instructor and as soloist to the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Orchestra. He also founded the Azerbaijan State String Quartet. Ganiyev performed frequently with this quartet and the State Philharmonic during these years and presented numerous first performances of works by Azerbaijani composers in tours with these ensembles. He was appointed as associate professor in 1972, and the Azerbaijan Government conferred upon Ganiyev the title of State Artist for his distinguished contributions in 1975.
From 1971 to 1979 Ganiyev worked at the National Conservatory of Music in Cairo. He was later appointed as chair to the Department of String Instruments at the same institution. He was elected People’s Artist in 1982 and was appointed as professor and chair to the Department of String Instruments, Baku State Conservatory. In 1993 Prof. Server Ganiyev joined the faculty of the Music Department of Bilkent University, Faculty of Music and Performing Arts. Prof. Ganiyev was the principal concertmaster of the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra and conducted the Bilkent Chamber Orchestra. The BMP label has released two CD recordings of these ensembles with Ganiyev conducting. Maestro Ganiyev has performed in concerts and has given master classes throughout the formal USSR and the capitals of Italy, United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Bulgaria, China, and Egypt.