Nodar Gabunia was a distinguished Georgian pianist, composer, and music educator, born on July 9, 1933, in Tbilisi, Georgia, and passing on August 31, 2000, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He began his musical education at the Tbilisi Conservatory in 1951 and later transferred to the Moscow Conservatory in 1954, where he studied piano under Alexander Goldenweiser and composition with Aram Khachaturian. After completing his studies in 1962, Gabunia returned to Tbilisi to teach at the State Conservatory, eventually becoming a Lecturer in 1966, a Professor in 1976, and the Rector in 1984, a position he held until his death. He also served as a visiting lecturer at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague.

Gabunia was an active concert pianist known for his broad repertoire, encompassing works by J.S. Bach, L.v. Beethoven, Béla Bartók, and Prokofiev, among others. He was involved with the Soviet and Georgian Composers' Union and received numerous Georgian and international awards for his contributions to music.

As a composer, Gabunia sought to develop a unique Georgian sound, resisting the influence of Romantic and European styles. His compositions are characterized by an expanded modal tonality with neo-classical influences and virtuoso elements. He primarily composed chamber and symphonic music, including three symphonies, three piano concertos, a violin concerto, two string quartets, three piano sonatas, a piano trio, two song cycles, and various other works. Notably, his music for the theater piece "The Fable by Sulkhan Saba" won the Grand Prix at the UNESCO International Music Competition in 1973.

Gabunia's final work, the Piano Trio in F (1998), reflects his battle with terminal illness, yet it is marked by a spirit of defiance and emotional depth. His legacy continues through performances of his works, such as those at the Delft Chamber Music Festival, where his compositions were celebrated by his former students and family.