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Profile of Anthony McGill

Monday, January 21, 2013 by Noel Morris

Anthony McGill

At 33 years of age, Anthony McGill has come into his own. Since his performance at the 2009 Inauguration of Barack Obama, he’s been one of the most sought-after soloists in Classical music. When not on the road, McGill serves as Principal Clarinet to the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and also teaches at the Juilliard School.

McGill recently returned to his hometown to pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with the Chicago Sinfonietta. For McGill, the significance of that raw January day was palpable. Not only was he back–back to the home of music lessons and band concerts, but once again, it was Inauguration Day–the start of the second term of American’s first black President.

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Tags: Aaron Copland, Anthony McGill, Barack Obama, Benny Goodman, Chicago Sinfonietta, clarinet, composer, Gabriela Montero, Inauguration, Itzhak Perlman, John Williams, Martin Luther King, Mei-Ann Chen, Metropolitan Opera, MLK, oath of office, Obama, President, Presidential, Shaker melody, Shaker tune, Simple Gifts, Star Wars, the Met, Yo-Yo Ma

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Isaac Taylor

Is it possible to have an artist with brown skin, featured, without making reference to said color? Even if the characterization came at the behest of the artist, it is irrelevant. Additionally, I fail to understand how Mr. Obama is the first ‘black’ president, seeing that his mother is white. What almighty supreme person(s) declared the advantage ‘black’ of the two parents?
- Noel Morris
  
  All good points, although Mr. McGill was in town to play an MLK tribute, hence the direction of the conversation. As for racial designation, this has been the case for all American history–just fill out a CPS form or apply for a driver’s license to see. I like that McGill spoke about Obama as being bi-racial, thus being quintessentially American.
  
  Thank you for your comments.

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Profile of Anthony McGill