Contact George Austin for lessons, scores, and more.
(778) 994-4415 | promuserv@gmail.com
Annex #4-612 David St.
Victoria, BC
The expertise of a career musician
George Austin’s career in music is wide-ranging. His initial training was that of a classical pianist, but ever adventurous, he soon branched out into jazz, pop, R&B and rock.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Music and as such has been in demand as an instructor. He has composed music for commercials, orchestral works, choral works and works for chorus and orchestra, in addition to two complete operas for the Young Peoples’ Opera Society of BC. As Music Director of the Fraser Valley Gilbert and Sullivan Society, he was twice nominated as Music Director of the Year by the CTC and actually won that distinction for his work in the 2008 production of Iolanthe.
He was also the founder and first conductor of the Richmond Community Orchestra and Chorus. His true comfort zone is music – teaching it, composing it, performing it as a pianist or conductor. He willingly accepted the challenge of Gina Williams’ “DARE.”
High-Caliber Compositions
These arrangements can be licensed for a fee upon request.
Lessons in music theory, music history, and piano are available by appointment.
What People Are Saying
I took piano lessons with George over a period of nearly two years starting in September, 1994, at the age of 39. I had little hope that my fingering technique would much improve by the effort, but I did hope to hone my listening skills and learn more about how harmony works, wanting to enrich what I brought to the musicmaking I was already doing.
Jazz was then my focus because jazz employs harmonies that I then could not rightly hear. I learned to hear and understand jazz-style harmonies over the time I spent studying with George. More importantly, I learned much about how to construct harmony, and how to think about the harmony I was hearing in the music I play and in the music I listen to every day.
I was able to bring these sharpened skills to what I was already doing in church. I also gained much needed confidence in what I could do, with which I was able to expand my musical performance prospects to include some professional gigging and playing in other venues beyond my church.
Thank you, George, for helping me to get where I wanted to go.
— M.B.
George Austin was my first teacher of theory, voice, and piano. His emphasis on musicianship and detail always inspired me, and made higher learning so exciting! George’s higher education and experience with performing, conducting, and composing makes him a well rounded and compassionate teacher who can guide students of any age to excellence.
— D.B
I have had many music teachers throughout my life, but George Austin is the one that truly made a difference. Working with him felt like a privilege, because he has so much knowledge and he tailors his teaching style to the needs of his students. As a native French speaker, relearning all of the terms could have been difficult and confusing, but he always found a way of make it easy.
He used to say something along the lines of "if you can't understand, than I have to adjust my teaching so that you eventually can." He showed a lot of patience, like a good teacher should, but he also never gives up on you if you have the will to try. Which is what makes him stand out.
He not only made me expand my abilities as a musician, he also gave me a lot of confidence in my performance and constantly challenged me. Whatever level you are at and if you are willing to make the efforts, George Austin has definitely something to teach you.
-S.J.
