MICHAL GEORGE was born in Cape Town, South Africa and began his classical guitar studies with Ganiefa van der Schyff at the University of Cape Town. He holds degrees from the University of Witwatersrand and the Cleveland Institute of Music. He has won numerous prizes, most notably the 1994 First Prize of the National Classical Guitar Competition of South Africa, the Rosilia Alban Prize in Guitar, and the Alumni Association Valedictorian Award — the latter two at the Cleveland Institute. He is active as a soloist, chamber and concerto performer, and teaches in the Preparatory Division of the Cleveland Institute.