Biography
Anthony McGill serves as principal clarinetist for the New York Philharmonic, where he has also appeared frequently in solo and chamber settings. He holds the distinction of being the ensemble’s first African American to head any section.
Born in Chicago on July 17, 1979, McGill spent his childhood in the Chatham neighborhood on the city’s far South Side. His older brother Demarre has held principal flute posts with the Seattle, Dallas, and San Diego Symphony Orchestras, and the siblings have appeared together on stage and on recordings. Early training came from jazz artist Richard Dawkins, followed by Lyric Opera clarinetist Stanley Davis; additional study took place through the Merit School of Music community program, which in turn led to instruction from other Chicago-area clarinet teachers. As an adult, McGill has championed initiatives aimed at broadening diversity within classical music. He completed his secondary education at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan before earning a degree from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. His first major orchestral appointment was associate principal clarinetist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. In 2000 he was awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant; four years later he advanced to principal clarinetist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York. A further milestone arrived in 2008 when he performed at the inauguration of President Barack Obama, playing John Williams’s newly composed Air and Simple Gifts. McGill issued a self-titled album in 2010.
He joined the New York Philharmonic as principal clarinetist in 2014, thereby becoming the first African American principal in any section of the orchestra. The following year he recorded Carl Nielsen’s Clarinet Concerto with the Philharmonic for the Dacapo label. Continued solo and chamber appearances have taken him to leading American ensembles such as the Baltimore, San Diego, and Kansas City Symphony Orchestras. Among his frequent chamber partners are pianists Lang Lang and Emanuel Ax as well as the Tokyo String Quartet. Several of his recordings appear on the Cedille label, among them the 2021 release of the Brahms Clarinet Sonatas, Op. 120, made with pianist Gloria Chien.
Born in Chicago on July 17, 1979, McGill spent his childhood in the Chatham neighborhood on the city’s far South Side. His older brother Demarre has held principal flute posts with the Seattle, Dallas, and San Diego Symphony Orchestras, and the siblings have appeared together on stage and on recordings. Early training came from jazz artist Richard Dawkins, followed by Lyric Opera clarinetist Stanley Davis; additional study took place through the Merit School of Music community program, which in turn led to instruction from other Chicago-area clarinet teachers. As an adult, McGill has championed initiatives aimed at broadening diversity within classical music. He completed his secondary education at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan before earning a degree from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. His first major orchestral appointment was associate principal clarinetist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. In 2000 he was awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant; four years later he advanced to principal clarinetist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York. A further milestone arrived in 2008 when he performed at the inauguration of President Barack Obama, playing John Williams’s newly composed Air and Simple Gifts. McGill issued a self-titled album in 2010.
He joined the New York Philharmonic as principal clarinetist in 2014, thereby becoming the first African American principal in any section of the orchestra. The following year he recorded Carl Nielsen’s Clarinet Concerto with the Philharmonic for the Dacapo label. Continued solo and chamber appearances have taken him to leading American ensembles such as the Baltimore, San Diego, and Kansas City Symphony Orchestras. Among his frequent chamber partners are pianists Lang Lang and Emanuel Ax as well as the Tokyo String Quartet. Several of his recordings appear on the Cedille label, among them the 2021 release of the Brahms Clarinet Sonatas, Op. 120, made with pianist Gloria Chien.
Albums
Malek Jandali: Concertos
2023
Here with You
2021
Uncovered, Vol. 1: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
2021
Winged Creatures
2019
Mozart & Brahms Clarinet Quintets
2014
Anthony McGill
2010
Live
