Born in a family of professional musicians
George first began studying piano at the age of 6 and percussion at 8 with Dobri Paliev and graduated
from the State Music Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria in 1995. In 1998 he earned his Masters of Music at Ithaca
College, NY, with Gordon Stout and was awarded Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Oklahoma
in 2004 where he studied with Richard Gipson.
His dissertation ASYMMETRICAL RHYTHMS FOR MARIMBA
was published in November 2008 by VDM.He studied conducting with William Wakefield and composition with Bentsion Eliezer and Gregory Woodward. His compositions have been performed at numerous concerts, competitions, meetings and have been favorably reviewed in magazines. His latest commission was a Concerto for Maracas and eight percussionists written for maracas virtuoso Ed Harrison.
George has participated in numerous recordings, festivals and concert performances in Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Austria, Hungary, Luxembourg, Serbia, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, France, Spain, Portugal, Monaco, Belgium, USA and has received several music honors and awards. In the summer of 2010, he became conductor of the newly founded Orchestra of Exploration. Since 2005 George serves as Director of the NSO School of Music. He resides with his wife Dessislava - violist and their two sons Boyan and George in Glenview, IL.
