Anthony McGill

Clarinetist Anthony McGill is one of classical music’s most recognizable and multifaceted figures, hailed for “trademark brilliance, penetrating sound and rich character” (New York Times). He is New York Philharmonic’s principal clarinet — and it’s first African-American principal player -- and former Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra associate principal.

Mr. McGill was honored to participate in President Barack Obama’s inauguration, premiering a piece written for the occasion by John Williams and performing with Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, and pianist Gabriela Montero. He appears regularly as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and Baltimore Symphony, among many. He is a favorite collaborator of the Brentano, Daedalus, JACK, Miró, Pacifica, Shanghai, and Takacs quartets, plus Emanuel Ax, Inon Barnatan, Yefim Bronfman, Gil Shaham, Midori, Mitsuko Uchida, Lang Lang, and Anthony Davis.

Mr. McGill serves on the Curtis, Juilliard School, and Bard College Conservatory faculties; as Artistic Advisor for Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program; and on the League of American Orchestras. He is an ardent advocate for helping music education reach underserved communities and addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in classical music. 

“I think about my history as a young Black boy playing clarinet on the South Side of Chicago and now this life in New York — how can I help the next generation of young musicians succeed, too?”

he said. “Maybe some kid from Queens or the Bronx, where I live, will see me or hear me play. It gives me such pride to think what they may think is impossible is actually very possible.”