Anthony McGill (musician)

Anthony McGill (born July 17, 1979) is the principal clarinetist for the New York Philharmonic, after having served for a decade as principal clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

Anthony McGill
McGill performing at Lincoln Center in 2019
McGill performing at Lincoln Center in 2019
Background information
Born (1979-07-17) July 17, 1979 (age 45)[1]
Chicago, Illinois
Websiteanthonymcgill.com

Biography

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McGill is originally from Chicago, Illinois, growing up in the city's Chatham neighborhood.[2]

He attended the Interlochen Arts Academy, the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, and is an instructor at the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University[3] and the Mannes College of Music. McGill is one of the few African American musicians to hold a principal position in a major orchestra.[4]

McGill was a recipient of the 2000 Avery Fisher Career Grant[5] and was the 2020 recipient of the Avery Fisher Prize, awarded to "solo instrumentalists who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and excellence in music".[6]

With Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, and Gabriela Montero, McGill recorded and performed John Williams's "Air and Simple Gifts", composed for the inauguration of President Barack Obama on January 20, 2009.[3] Although the music played was a recording made two days before because of concerns that the cold weather might damage the instruments, the quartet was actually playing at the same time as the recording.[7]

McGill's older brother, Demarre, is the principal flutist of the Seattle Symphony and previously held the same position with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra,[8] the San Diego Symphony.[2] and The Florida Orchestra.

References

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  1. ^ "Anthony McGill". The HistoryMakers.
  2. ^ a b George, Jason (January 20, 2009). "Clarinetist delivers the day's other breakthrough performance". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 23, 2009. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Peabody instructor part of Obama inauguration", The Baltimore Sun, January 8, 2009
  4. ^ Tommasini, Anthony (January 20, 2009). "A New Williams Work for a Momentous Occasion". The New York Times. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  5. ^ "The Avery Fisher Career Grants | Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts". www.aboutlincolncenter.org. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  6. ^ "The Avery Fisher Prize | Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts". www.aboutlincolncenter.org. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  7. ^ "Quartet pre-recorded Obama music". BBC News (January 23, 2009).
  8. ^ "Seattle Symphony: The Orchestra". Archived from the original on December 29, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
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