George Oakley

USA / Georgien

George Oakley is a Georgian-born American composer who “represents a return to a great tradition” (Jay Nordlinger, music critic). His unique musical style—deeply narrative and symbolic draws inspiration from the rich folklore of Georgia, the long tradition of Western classical music, and his own philosophical reflections. 

In 2018, Oakley’s debut CD album, Wanderer, was released by NAXOS under the American Classics imprint. American Record Guide praised the album, stating: “This is a wonderful set of works by a composer whose every work opens up a wide, kaleidoscopic new world of melodic possibility.” Gramophone described Oakley’s music as “ardent and propulsive... the product of an original and fertile mind.”

Oakley's compositions have been performed at major venues and festivals, including Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall, Merkin Hall, Baryshnikov Arts Center, Le Poisson Rouge, the Roerich Museum, and the Salmagundi Art Club in New York; the Chicago Cultural Center; Kakhidze Music Center in Georgia; the Mannes Sounds Festival; Puerto Piano & Strings Festival in Puerto Rico; the Oracle Piano Society in Arizona; and the Bermuda Piano Festival. His music has been broadcast on New York’s classical music station WQXR, as well as on New Sounds and WFMT radio.

Born in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, Oakley studied piano at the V.Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatory. In 2003, after winning the top prize at the Flier International Piano Competition, he moved to the United States to continue his education at DePaul University under the guidance of Eteri Andjaparidze. A featured alumnus of the Steinhardt School at New York University, Oakley studied film scoring with Ira Newborn and classical composition with Justin

Dello Joio. Following his time at NYU, he was mentored by renowned composer Richard Danielpour, who described Oakley as “a composer of extraordinary gifts whose music speaks to the heart as well as the mind.”

Homepage: https://georgeoakleycomposition.com