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Updated 8/27/2022

George Lernis

  • M

    MA

Institution/Business Type: Artist / Creative (Individual)

Having grown up with the musical traditions of the Middle East/Eastern Mediterranean regions and later having moved to the U.S. to study Jazz at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, George is considered to be a bimusical individual. In addition to his extensive training and experience on drum-set, he specializes in a number of traditional percussion instruments such as: the darbuka (goblet shaped drum), bendir (frame drum) and riq (Arabic tambourine). 

In 2001 he came to the United States to study music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Throughout his studies George was mentored by master musicians such as: Kenwood Dennard, John Ramsay, Mark Walker, Dave Samuels, Gary Barton and Gary Chaffee among others. He graduated in April 2005 with a bachelor degree in Jazz Performance. In 2008, George was accepted at the Longy School of Music with a scholarship from where he received his first master’s degree in Modern American Music. During his graduate studies he studied privately with master drummer Bob Gullotti and bassist John Lockwood. 

In 2008, George released his first album as a bandleader, Shapes of Nature featuring the George Lernis Jazz Quartet. Around this time, George also formed the Anatoliama INC non-profit, performing and preserving the musical traditions of Greece around the U.S. and the world in the form of concerts and educational workshops. Furthermore, since 2017 George has been the grant recipient of the Mary Jaharis Center in Boston, MA for the creation of the annual Boston Byzantine Music Festival where he  invites world renowned artists to perform in the U.S. every November with the Anatoliama Ensemble.

In 2020 George was awarded a full scholarship at the  Berklee College of Music Global Jazz Institute. During his time there he was mentored by jazz legends such as Danilo Perez, Joe Lovano and John Patitucci among others. In 2021 he graduated with his second masters degree in Contemporary Performance. 

His latest album “Between Two Worlds” was released on June 18th, 2022 and features world renowned bass player John Patitucci. The music for his new album was inspired by the ongoing stereotyping of immigrants based on their origins, religions and skin color and aims to empower immigrants from different ethnic backgrounds to incorporate their traditions and cultures into American Society. Being an immigrant himself, this is a social issue that he is deeply passionate about.



 

Find Me

George Lernis (He, him, his)
Job Title: Musician
Address:
Westwood, MA 02090

Social Media:

Additional Content:

About

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Artist / Creative (Individual)

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship

Year Founded:

2019

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Artist / Creative (Individual)

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship

Year Founded:

2019

Disciplines

Primary Discipline:

Music - Jazz

Additional Disciplines:

  • Music - Traditional

Activities and Services

Activities and Services:

  • Arts for Social Change / Creative Activism
  • Creation of a Work of Art (Including Commissions)
  • Arts Instruction / Lessons
  • Cultural Education
  • Curriculum Development
  • Residency - In School
  • Workshops / Demonstrations / Master Class
  • Performance / Concert / Reading
Seasons Active: spring, summer, fall, winter
Events Per Year: 100

Communities

Populations Engaged:

  • Adults
  • Elders
  • Families
  • General Public
  • Immigrant Populations
  • Nonprofits
  • People with Disabilities
  • School Groups
  • Teens

Languages Available:

  • Greek
  • English

Geographic Reach:

  • Town / City
  • County
  • Multi-County Region
  • State
  • Multi-State Region
  • National
  • International

Media Gallery

I Have Worked With

Chase Morrin

Artist / Creative (Individual)

Date: 06/2022

I have been working with Chase Morrin for the last 5 years in a variety of projects. We also worked together at the same time at the Berklee College of Music - Global Jazz Institute. In addition I am part of Chase Morrin's Global Jazz Trio which includes: Chase Morrin on Piano, Naseem Alatrash on Cello and myself on Percussion. Our latest concert took place on June 29th at the Avenue (Boston JP).

Naseem Alatrash

Performing Group

Date: 04/2022

I have been performing with Naseem Alatrash for the last 5 years on a variety of his own original projects as well as mine. I am also part of his new project "Bright Colors on Dark Canvas" where I play percussion. Our last concert at the Nextstagearts theater (VT) took place on April 3rd of 2022.

Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol

Artist / Creative (Individual)

Date: 02/2022

I have been working with Mehmet Ali Sanlikol as his main percussionist and drummer for a variety of his projects: Dunya Ensemble, @Whatsnext big band featuring Dave Liebman, Othello in the Seraglio a Coffee House Opera and his Jazz trio (An Elegant Ritual). Our latest concert for the release of his latest album "An Elegant Ritual" took place on February 18th at Joe's Pub (NY).

Anastassiya Petrova

Artist / Creative (Individual)

Date: 10/2021

I have been performing with renowned pianist Anastassiya Petrova for the last 3 years on a variety of projects of hers and mine. Our latest concerts together took place on: May 4th, 2022 at the Global Jazz Club (Boston, MA) and October 22nd, 2021 at the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation.

Affiliations and Accomplishments

Awards

Awards:

  • 2020 - 2021 Berklee College of Music, Global Jazz (Masters Program) full scholarship award
  • 2019 - Present Traditional Arts Apprenticeship (Mass Cultural Council), grant to study Santur (microtonal hammered dulcimer) and Makam (microtonal modes)
  • 2017 - Present Mary Jaharis Center annual grant recipient/organizer of the Boston Byzantine Festival

Awards

Awards:

  • 2020 - 2021 Berklee College of Music, Global Jazz (Masters Program) full scholarship award
  • 2019 - Present Traditional Arts Apprenticeship (Mass Cultural Council), grant to study Santur (microtonal hammered dulcimer) and Makam (microtonal modes)
  • 2017 - Present Mary Jaharis Center annual grant recipient/organizer of the Boston Byzantine Festival

Education

Education:

  • 2001-2005 Berklee College of Music, Bachelors in Contemporary Jazz Performance
  • 2009-2011 Longy School of Music of Bard College, Masters of Music in Modern American Music Performance
  • 2020-2021 Berklee College of Music (Global Jazz), Masters of Music in Contemporary Performance

Artist Info

Touring Artist

NEST Eligible Artist

Technical Requirements:

  • Sound engineer and sound system to be provided by venue. 3 monitors minimum with separate mixes. Microphones for all the musicians. Piano (upright or grant ideally) to be provided by the venue. Piano needs to be tuned. Food/water appreciated.

Fee Range:

$350 - $500 ($500 ideally) per musician for events around the New England area $600 for events outside the New England that require traveling

State of Residence:

Massachusetts

Minimum Number of Performers:

5

Maximum Number of Performers:

5

Touring Artist

NEST Eligible Artist

Technical Requirements:

  • Sound engineer and sound system to be provided by venue. 3 monitors minimum with separate mixes. Microphones for all the musicians. Piano (upright or grant ideally) to be provided by the venue. Piano needs to be tuned. Food/water appreciated.

Fee Range:

$350 - $500 ($500 ideally) per musician for events around the New England area $600 for events outside the New England that require traveling

State of Residence:

Massachusetts

Minimum Number of Performers:

5

Maximum Number of Performers:

5