A nod to Southeastern’s rich musical legacies was made when former graduate Donald George was recognized as Southeastern’s 2010 Alumnus of the Year. This award recognizes excellence in achievement, both nationally and internationally, of Southeastern’s past students.

Born in California, George moved to Franklinton, La., at an early age. It was here that he shared the unpaved Bickham Street with another Southeastern alumnus, current Southeastern President John L. Crain. With musical scholarships, George attended Southeastern for his undergraduate degree and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance. He studied under professors that would ultimately influence his career and focus his drive.

“I worked with a professor here, Ralph Roberts, and he had been to Europe and he had sung in Europe and he had done all of the roles that I wanted to do,” said George. “He gave me kind of an inspiration to want to sing, to perform. I thought, ‘Let me try it. Let me see what happens.'”

After graduation, George continued his education at Louisiana State University, where he achieved a master’s degree. Leaving Louisiana, George moved on to Europe, where he made his international debut in Munich, Germany. Since then, George has performed at many of the most famous opera houses of the world, recorded with musical greats such as Leonard Bernstein and pulled in accolades from all corners of the globe.

George is an honorary citizen of multiple countries including Bulgaria and England and was appointed Honored Professor at the Shenyang Conservatory of Music in Shenyang, China.

George lives and travels abroad as a necessity of his career, but coming home is something to which he always looks forward.

“It’s different,” said George. “Living in Germany or living in Europe or living in New York, it’s a different atmosphere when you come back to the south. It’s a warmer, friendlier atmosphere and just something you kind of forget about, and when you come back, you enjoy it again.”

Although it is Beckham Street and Pottle Hall that George is associated with locally, he is known globally in the opera halls abroad and for his movingly lyrical tenor as Candide, the Duke of “Rigoletto” and many more.

“My mother was Sicilian, and I love Italian Opera,” said George. “I listen to it all the time. I like that type of music. It’s a very exuberant, flowing music. But I like German music, too. It’s very, very different. I like to say that Italian music is horizontal, German music is vertical. It’s a different style, a different way of thinking about it.”

George is currently an associate professor of voice at State University of New York, Potsdam’s Crane School of Music and resides in Germany with his wife Evelyn and two daughters.