George Mari

George Mari is a trumpeter, pianist and composer from South Africa, who started his career as a dance-band musician in Durban while he was still in high school.

Many of the valuable skills he shares today he learnt while performing and touring with local dance and pop bands. George later studied jazz and refined his composition skills when he completed an MMus in Jazz Composition at the University of Natal (2000). While a student he spent a semester at Florida International University, studying with the renowned trumpeter Arturo Sandoval. George taught in the Jazz programmes at DUT and UKZN for several years before turning his attention to another area of interest: piano tuning and restoration.

George has recorded two CD’s Since I Met You and Syringa Avenue, and plans to record a new collection of original compositions in 2022. His recent musical collaborations have include an exchange programme with Virginia Commonwealth University (USA), through UKZN, a commissioned work for the Jomba Dance Festival (2020) and regular performances at all the major live music venues in the greater Durban area.

George is the Community Projects Co-ordinator for the UKUSA Arts Programme and runs Marigold Pianos and Tuner in Durban. In 2013 Debbie and George Mari established Marigold Music School as an opportunity to share their knowledge and skills, as professional musicians and experienced educators