We are excited to announce our newest music staff member, George Cornelius. George brings a wealth of musical experience to our staff as a singer and multi-instrumentalist. He has performed with our jazz combo on trombone and voice, and as a soloist with guitar and piano. George will assist Don Krehbiel with our adult choirs and will be responsible for expanding our musical offerings with more diversity of genres and performers. George joins our music staff of Don Krehbiel, Alan Dyer, Cynthia Stuart and Jenani Tzhone.
More About George
George Cornelius is excited for the opportunity to serve First Unitarian Church of Dallas in a greater capacity by joining the staff as an assistant to Director of Music Don Krehbiel. George has been coming with his wife Alissa and daughter Lydia to First UU for the past four years, during which time he has contributed to the worship service both as a member of the jazz band and as a solo performer. The Cornelius family became members of the church in 2020, and George and Alissa both served as sumfun! counselors this summer.
In 2014, George became a public school music teacher and is now in his seventh year at Allen High School, where he teaches students of varying backgrounds and experiences to listen to, perform, read, write, create, analyze, appreciate, and understand music of all kinds through his Music Theory courses.
Before becoming a teacher, George performed as a classical vocalist, including over 30 baritone and tenor roles with symphony orchestras and opera companies in Texas, Michigan, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Utah, and Montana, and was the 2nd place winner in the Scholarship Division of the 2008 National Opera Association Vocal Competition. His most cherished memories as a performer though, are in American musical theatre. In 2007, he had the opportunity to spend a week workshopping a new show being written by Stephen Schwartz. When he sang for Mr. Schwartz, he was advised that he would be ideal for the part of Bobby in the show Company by Stephen Sondheim and should pursue the opportunity to perform the role. In the summer of 2014, right before transitioning to a teaching career, George got the great satisfaction of performing his dream role of Bobby in Company with the San Antonio Playhouse.
Since childhood, George has also played piano, guitar, and trombone, and loves picking up new instruments, and learning new ways to understand and experience music. He holds three music degrees from Texas Christian University, the University of North Texas, and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He and his wife Alissa met in ninth grade marching band in Plano and married in 2004. After living together in Michigan and New York, they came back to Texas and our happy to have found their church home here at First UU Dallas.