Internationally recognized tenor named Southeastern's Alumnus of the Year
Contact: Rene Abadie
10/19/10
Click on thumbnail for high resolution photo
HAMMOND – Internationally recognized tenor Donald George has been named the 2010 Alumnus of the Year by the Southeastern Louisiana University Alumni Association.
Originally from Franklinton, George is an associate professor of voice at State University of New York (SUNY) Potsdam’s The Crane School of Music. He earned his bachelor’s degree in vocal performance at Southeastern in 1967 and his master’s degree from LSU.
Alumni Association Director Kathy Pittman said the award recognizes graduates with unique accomplishments on a national or international level who continue to be active supporters of their alma mater.
“We are proud to welcome Donald George home,” said Southeastern President John L. Crain. “He has excelled as both a teacher who works closely with undergraduate students and as a performer on stages in the United States, Europe, Australia and China. He has truly earned international recognition for his talent.”
George has served as an honored professor at Shenyang Conservatory in China. He has taught as a master teacher at the International Performance Arts Institute and serves as director of the institute’s Opera Intensive Program, a program for developing and training young opera singers. He also has taught at the Bavarian Theater Academy, Hochschule fur Theater und Music in Munich.
He has performed with many of the famous orchestras and conductors of the world, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, L’Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale Rai Italy, Radio France and the London Symphony and has recorded for Sony, Naxos, Phillips Classic and Bavarian Radio.
George is active with the College Music Society, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Opera America and the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). His original research presented at the MTNA 2008 national conference on the German language melodrama was voted the highlight of the conference and was published in the “American Music Teacher” journal.
He will be honored at the university’s Alumni Awards Evening Friday, Oct. 22. Tickets for the event, scheduled for 7 p.m., at Twelve Oaks, are available from the Alumni Association, 985-549-2150, 1-800-SLU-ALUM. George will also reign as grand marshal in the Homecoming parade at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23, Homecoming Day.
Southeastern Homecoming Week Oct. 18-23 also includes a variety of spirited games and activities for students; a community decorating contest; pep rally Thursday evening; and homecoming tailgating and reunions on Saturday. The week will culminate with the Southeastern Lions vs. McNeese State University football game at 6 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium.
For a complete schedule of Homecoming activities, contests and reunions, visit www.selu.edu/homecoming.
More News...
