Classical guitarist Michal George moved from Johannesburg to the USA in 1997. He enrolled at the Cleveland Institute of Music in Ohio where he obtained his Masters in 1999. Michal also won the Rosilia Ablan memorial prize for guitar studies. He was the winner of the 2002 International Web Concert Hall Competition, where he performed exclusively South African music. His CD - He who walks freely, taking big steps - for Daminus Records in Germany followed his successful debut Umzwangedwa. The CD features mostly his own compositions, with a few from fellow South Africans Stanley Glasser, Abri Jordaan, Peter Klatzow and Timothy Walker. His African roots shine through. The CD's title comes from one of Michal's poems.
Michal's musical education started at the University of Cape Town's College of Music. This was followed by Wits Music School where he studied under David Hewitt, the most famous South African guitarist, teacher and guitar composer. David died in 2001 at the age of 54 from Alzheimer's. Another teacher at Wits was the father of South African classical guitar, Fritz Buss. Michal did not come from a musical family. He is married to Romy, a modern dancer. When not practisinmg or performing, he plays tennis, reads and teaches group exercise classes at health clubs in Cleveland.
