Mark George is a member of the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he teaches music theory and serves as Director of Distance Learning. He also serves as Instructor of Music Literature at Case Western Reserve University. In addition to his classroom teaching, he played a key role in the implementation of an innovative outreach program called ICARE (Initiative for Cultural Arts in Education) that has had a profound impact on public schools in Cleveland, Ohio. He received a doctor of musical arts degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 1989. A highly regarded pianist both as a soloist and in chamber music, he was a finalist at the Simone Belsky Piano Competition. His chamber ensemble, North Coast Trio, was grand-prize winner of the 1992 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and first prize co-winner of the 1993 Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition. He has appeared frequently as a recitalist and soloist with the Trinity Chamber Orchestra and with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony where he serves as the principal keyboard artist.