Song: Reflections / Album: The Divinity of Dogs / Artist: George Skaroulis
- 11 years ago
http://www.georgeskaroulis.com/
After many years of soothing people with his music, George Skaroulis recently became The Official Musician for the Atlanta Humane Society when it was discovered that his music also has a very calming effect on animals waiting to be adopted. "Songs for Sophie" was inspired by the love and dedication of a rescue dog (named Sophie) who lived to be twenty years old, and part of the proceeds from this CD will be donated to "New Leash On Life," a companion animal advocacy group that works to care for and improve the lives of lost and homeless animals in Metro Atlanta (GA).
At age five, George began playing the piano sitting on the piano bench next to his mother -- a classically trained pianist -- watching and listening. One day, he started playing along with her by ear, and he was hooked. Eventually George performed at talent shows in his elementary schools, and on weekends, his father took him to the piano store at the local mall. Crowds would gather around to watch, perhaps this was an early indication performing was destined to be in George's future.
At age ten, his parents encouraged him to take piano lessons, yet after a few weeks George found them too limiting and way too structured. He never learned to read music, preferring to play by ear and from the heart.
As a teenager, George followed the footsteps of his Greek grandfather and had a rewarding career in the restaurant industry. He studied culinary arts, and eventually spent over 20 years in the restaurant business. Privately, he continued to play piano and eventually compose and create his own songs. After moving to Atlanta, he had an opportunity to record his debut album Homeland in 1996. It was then that George's independent record label Evzone Music was born. His soothing style and flowing melodies struck a chord with massage therapists, Yoga instructors, spas and the healing arts.
After releasing 4 albums, George decided to put his restaurant career on the back burner, and took a leap of faith to pursue his passion for music full time. Since then George has recorded 16 albums including Homeland, Numinous, Season Traditions, Athena, Generations, Second Nature, Return to Homeland, Snow, Forever Young, Adagio: the music of Chris Spheeris, Sanctuary, Reunion , Imagine, and Songs for Sophie. In addition, George has released two sheet music books of his original compositions.
Even animals have a positive response to George's music. When the training and behavior coordinator of the Atlanta Humane Society began using George's soothing piano music to relax anxious dogs in their kennels overnight, the calming results were remarkable. George organized several successful fundraisers to benefit the group and was soon named the Humane Society's official musician in Atlanta.
Recently, George's CD soundtrack, "The Divinity of Dogs- Music to Calm Dogs and the People Who Love Them" hit the #3 spot on Amazon's Hot New Age Release chart.
George's music has also been featured in several nationally aired PBS documentaries, and can be heard on: Music Choice, Sirius Satellite Radio, Martha Stewart Living Radio and NPR. George's Christmas album Season Traditions won Best Holiday Album of 2011 by solopiano.com He generously has performed benefit concerts for nonprofits including Haiti Disaster Relief, Tsunami Relief, Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, as well as the Humane Society, the American Cancer Society and AIDS research.
After many years of soothing people with his music, George Skaroulis recently became The Official Musician for the Atlanta Humane Society when it was discovered that his music also has a very calming effect on animals waiting to be adopted. "Songs for Sophie" was inspired by the love and dedication of a rescue dog (named Sophie) who lived to be twenty years old, and part of the proceeds from this CD will be donated to "New Leash On Life," a companion animal advocacy group that works to care for and improve the lives of lost and homeless animals in Metro Atlanta (GA).
At age five, George began playing the piano sitting on the piano bench next to his mother -- a classically trained pianist -- watching and listening. One day, he started playing along with her by ear, and he was hooked. Eventually George performed at talent shows in his elementary schools, and on weekends, his father took him to the piano store at the local mall. Crowds would gather around to watch, perhaps this was an early indication performing was destined to be in George's future.
At age ten, his parents encouraged him to take piano lessons, yet after a few weeks George found them too limiting and way too structured. He never learned to read music, preferring to play by ear and from the heart.
As a teenager, George followed the footsteps of his Greek grandfather and had a rewarding career in the restaurant industry. He studied culinary arts, and eventually spent over 20 years in the restaurant business. Privately, he continued to play piano and eventually compose and create his own songs. After moving to Atlanta, he had an opportunity to record his debut album Homeland in 1996. It was then that George's independent record label Evzone Music was born. His soothing style and flowing melodies struck a chord with massage therapists, Yoga instructors, spas and the healing arts.
After releasing 4 albums, George decided to put his restaurant career on the back burner, and took a leap of faith to pursue his passion for music full time. Since then George has recorded 16 albums including Homeland, Numinous, Season Traditions, Athena, Generations, Second Nature, Return to Homeland, Snow, Forever Young, Adagio: the music of Chris Spheeris, Sanctuary, Reunion , Imagine, and Songs for Sophie. In addition, George has released two sheet music books of his original compositions.
Even animals have a positive response to George's music. When the training and behavior coordinator of the Atlanta Humane Society began using George's soothing piano music to relax anxious dogs in their kennels overnight, the calming results were remarkable. George organized several successful fundraisers to benefit the group and was soon named the Humane Society's official musician in Atlanta.
Recently, George's CD soundtrack, "The Divinity of Dogs- Music to Calm Dogs and the People Who Love Them" hit the #3 spot on Amazon's Hot New Age Release chart.
George's music has also been featured in several nationally aired PBS documentaries, and can be heard on: Music Choice, Sirius Satellite Radio, Martha Stewart Living Radio and NPR. George's Christmas album Season Traditions won Best Holiday Album of 2011 by solopiano.com He generously has performed benefit concerts for nonprofits including Haiti Disaster Relief, Tsunami Relief, Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, as well as the Humane Society, the American Cancer Society and AIDS research.