The diversity of George Shaw's composing reflects his eclectic musical background. George began his studies with piano lessons at the age of 10. In middle school he picked up the clarinet and began playing in bands and orchestras. By high school, he was playing in the jazz band, playing mallets in percussion ensemble, was drum major of the marching band, and even performed at Carnegie Hall with the Houston Youth Symphony.

George studied composition and film scoring at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, taking part in its world-class Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television program. During college, he taught himself guitar, took beginning harp, and sang in university chorus which resulted in singing onstage with Barbara Streisand at the 2001 Emmy's.

Soon after graduating, George developed an interest in world music, and began collecting and learning to play wind and percussion instruments from countries around the world.

George currently plays clarinet with the Golden State Pops Orchestra, and is an active composer and conductor working in the Los Angeles area.