Anthony McGill

Anthony McGill is the principal clarinetist for the New York Philharmonic, after having served for a decade as principal clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. McGill is originally from Chicago, Illinois, growing up in the city's Chatham neighborhood.[1] He attended the Interlochen Arts Academy, the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is an instructor at the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland[2] and the Mannes College of Music in New York City. McGill is one of the few African American musicians to hold a principal position in a major orchestra.[3] Along with Itzhak Perlman (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello), and Gabriela Montero (piano), he recorded and performed "Air and Simple Gifts," composed by John Williams, for the inauguration of United States President Barack Obama on January 20, 2009.[2] Although the music played was a recording made two days prior due to concerns over the cold weather damaging the instruments, the four were actually playing at the same time as the recording.[4] McGill's older brother, Demarre, is the principal flutist with the Dallas Symphony and previously held the same position with the Seattle Symphony[5] and the San Diego Symphony.