George is the Artistic Director of Chicago Fringe Opera (called “the city’s alt-opera company” by the Chicago Tribune), which premieres operas in English including experiential, immersive, and site-specific works. Directing credits include WOYZECK, THE LONG CHRISTMAS DINNER and THE GREAT GOD PAN, as well as the company’s long-running hit show THE ROSINA PROJECT, a Hip-Hop adaptation of THE BARBER OF SEVILLE. Camera opera filmwork includes L’ASSASSINO for Resonance Works Pittsburgh and the award-winning CORSAIR for the Decameron Opera Coalition.
In addition, George has directed opera scenes at Wolf Trap Opera and Chautauqua Opera, and new productions with the Chicago Sinfonietta, Pittsburgh Opera, the Bay View Music Festival and Chicago Folks Operetta. An inspiring mentor, George is the Producing Artistic Director of Opera and Theatre at North Park University and has taught courses, masterclasses and guest lectures at Northwestern University, Roosevelt University, DePaul University, the University of
Illinois and CCM.
Now in its eighth season, George hosts OPERA BOX SCORE, America’s Talk Radio Show About Opera, heard every week on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and WNUR 89.3 FM Chicago. The show tackles the week’s opera headlines in an irreverent sports talk radio format. A recipient of two American Prizes in Directing, George’s production of SILENT NIGHT was chosen as a winner of Opera America’s 2013 Director-Designer competition. As one of ten Americans to receive the 2011 German Chancellor Fellowship from the Alexander von
Humboldt Foundation, George served as a Regieassistent at the Staatstheater Darmstadt. George’s training includes residencies with Pittsburgh Opera, the Merola Opera Program, and Wolf Trap Opera, and an improvisation intensive at the Annoyance Theatre. He holds an MFA in Directing from Northwestern University and a BA in Theatre Studies and English from Yale University. George is a member of Steep Theatre Company and the American Guild of Musical Artists, and a dual US-UK citizen.
He lives in Chicago with his wife, their two children, their cat, and their five chickens.
To learn more about George, visit gjcederquist.com.