/etc/mysql/
my.conf
Add to appropriate sections:
[mysqld]
character-set-server=utf8
collation-server=utf8_general_ci
init-connect="SET NAMES utf8"
skip-character-set-client-handshake
[client]
default-character-set = utf8
[mysqldump]
default-character-set = utf8
[mysql]
default-character-set = utf8