Career
He has arranged works for instrumental ensembles, with the bulk of his material for big band. George has enjoyed jazz music since the age of 5 when he first heard Maynard Ferguson. When he was young, he listened daily to recordings of groups such as the Four Freshmen, The Hi-Lo’s, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Frank Rosolino, the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, Gerry Mulligan and Paul Desmond.
At the age of 12 he began writing for and directing his first jazz combo, and by age 13 he wrote his first large ensemble arrangements followed by his first big band arrangement at age 14.
He then attended Hart High School under the direction of Larry Thornton, he wrote and composed music for his high school band while concurrently enrolled at College of the Canyons (COC) in Valencia, California. By age 18 he was leading his own big band and writing. Upon completion of his degree at Christlich Soziale Union (Christian Social Union) Northridge, he began teaching instrumental music at Hart High School.
In 1996 he moved to the Central Coast of California where he teaches Audio Technology at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, California. His participation as a festival adjudicator and clinician has included the California Music Educators Association (CMEA), California Band Director’s Association (CBDA), Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA), Buchanan High School, Dos Pueblos High School, Folsom High School, Westlake High School, Fresno City College, College of San Mateo, Monterey Next Generation Festival, Eastern Washington University, San Joaquin Delta College (California), Fort Lewis College (Colorado) and Reno jazz festivals. George has directed State Jazz bands for ensembles.
Sea Breeze Jazz
University of North Carolina Jazz Press
Walrus Music Publishers.
