ELDAR DJANGIROV (jazz pianist) was born January 28, 1987, in Kyrgyzstan in the former Soviet Union. At age five, Eldar began watching his father Emil play the family’s piano, and was able to repeat note for note what his father played.
Eldar began studying music with his mother Tatiana at age 5-1/2. Tatiana was a teacher of music history at a music college in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Eldar was discovered when he played at Novosibirsk, Russia at a jazz festival, in the summer of 1996. New York jazz enthusiast Charles McWhorter heard him play and obtained a scholarship for him to attend summer camp at the prestigious Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan (1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001), where, by the age of 12, he joined the High School Jazz Big Band. The knowledge and respect for the Kansas City jazz tradition convinced the Djangirov family to come to that city in 1998.

Since coming to the United States, Eldar has studied jazz harmony and improvisation with jazz educator Kim Park, John Elliott, big band with Vernon Howard, and arranging with Dave Remington. For his academic studies, Eldar attends Francis Parker School in San Diego, CA, where he currently lives.

Eldar has been a participant in several jazz festivals, including Jefferson City, Kansas City, MO; Topeka, KS; Roswell, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival NM; Palm Springs, CA; Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, ID; and the JVC Jazz Festival in New York City. Recognition of Eldar’s prodigious talent widened rapidly with his appearance on Marian McPartland’s “Piano Jazz” program on National Public Radio. Ms. McPartland invited Eldar to play in her Annual Jazz Concert Series at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. He has also performed at the Millennium Stage of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. twice.

Eldar’s television appearances include an interview by Dr. Billy Taylor on the “CBS Sunday Morning” TV show, and the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards Show.
Eldar participated in the jazz piano competition during the Annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in February, 2001 and he won the 1st place. He also won 1st place at the Peter Nero Piano Competition in 2002.

In addition, at age of 15, Eldar has performed George Gershwin's “Rhapsody in Blue” with Independence Symphony Orchestra and also performed as a guest artist with Nebraska Jazz Orchestra.
Eldar is the band leader of his own trio called “Eldar Djangirov Trio”.
Eldar has recorded two albums as a leader. His first album, entitled "Eldar," was released in May of 2001. His second album, entitled "Handprints," was released in June of 2003