BIOGRAPHY
George's time in Scotland has curated an affinity with traditional Scottish music, and it's Norse connections. Recently George has spent time researching lesser known composers of Britain and the Nordic countries, and hopes to spread the traditional sounds of these countries across a world dominated by a few famous names.
George Cherry was born in Oxford in 2000. George started lessons at the age of 4, taught by Claire Williams for 11 years. During this time, George's love for music grew, and her keen enthusiasm saw her starting lessons in both violin and flute as well.
George continued studying music through Stratford Academy of Music at Stratford Girls' Grammar School. They became a key component of both the Jazz and orchestral scene there, leading and arranging music for the Junior ensembles, and being principle pianist and trumpeter for the Jazz band and Orchestra for many years. On tour, they have played in some of the greatest Jazz clubs in New York,including BB kings and Swing 46, as well as closer to home in the Royal Shakespeare Company. Under the direction of Louise Burdett, George won the under 18's Piano and Piano accompaniment classes of Chipping Norton Music Festival in 2017. They wrote their first major compositions, Burnt Norton and Cappricio for string quartet in 2018.
In 2018, George began their studies at the University of St Andrews. They secured the Bluthner piano scholarship in 2018-2021, and a brass scholarship in 2020-2021, where they were taught by Ancuta Nite (Piano) and Alexander McGrattan (Trumpet). Playing under the batons of Gillian Craig, Dr Bede Williams and Alexander McGrattan, George has played classics such as Hadyn's trumpet concerto and Beethoven's Sonata pathetique, and contemporary performances such as Steve Reich's City life , and Graham Fitkin's "Cud". They have participated in piano masterclasses by Susan Tomes and Murray McLachan. In 2020, George achieved an "Oustanding" in the Fife Festival of music, and "Excellent" in Edinburgh piano competition. Their composition "Lo Scampo" won Edinburgh Competition Festival's open composition class. George was also asked to adjudicate at the Glasgow "Pianopalooza" in 2021.
In 2022 George's accomplishments have included directing a 4 hour UK debut performance of Simeon Ten Holt's Canto Ostinato, with 13 pianists in St Andrews. This has since inspired other performances around Scotland.
Musical Theatre performances:
Invisible: the musical (debut): ( keyboard, 2015)
"The Lion King" (Keys2/Percussion, 2016)
"Alice in Wonderland" (Keys 1, Conductor,2017)
"Into The Woods" (MD,2018),
"Chicago" (Keys 2/Piano Accordion, 2019),
Addams Family (AMD/keys 2, 2020 - cancelled),
"Mamma Mia" (MD/keys/accordion/trumpet, 2021, virtual),
"Sweeney Todd" (MD, 2022)
George currently resides in Oslo, Norway, and plays with the Romsås storband.
