Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Anthony McGill has carved out a stellar career in classical music. He is equally recognized as an orchestra musician, a chamber musician, soloist, and teacher. Recently appointed principal clarinet of the New York Philharmonic after a decade with the Metropolitan Opera, he’s also one of just a few African American musicians to hold such a position (his brother, Demarre, happens to be another). McGill returns home to perform and discuss his career – from his solo performance at Carnegie Hall to his gig of a lifetime playing President Obama’s 2009 inauguration – his family, and the state of diversity in classical music. CHF Associate Artistic Director Alison Cuddy will join him for a conversation and Winston Choi will perform piano accompaniment.
This program is generously underwritten by Allstate Insurance Company.
Chicago native Anthony McGill has been Principal Clarinet of the New York Philharmonic since September 2014. In January 2009 he performed alongside Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, and Gabriela Montero at the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama. He has performed as a soloist with major orchestras, participated in chamber music festivals, and given recitals around the globe. As an educator McGill is faculty at The Julliard School, Peabody Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music, and Bard College Conservatory.
Alison Cuddy is the associate artistic director at the Chicago Humanities Festival. Before coming to the Festival, she spent more than 10 years at WBEZ 91.5 FM. There she helped launched Odyssey, a nationally syndicated talk show of arts and ideas, hosted the morning news magazine Eight Forty-Eight and reported on arts and culture. She currently hosts Strange Brews, a podcast about the culture and community around craft beer.
Winston Choi is the Head of the Piano Program at Roosevelt University. His professional career was launched when he was named the Laureate of the 2003 Honens International Piano Competition and winner of France’s 2002 Concours International de Piano 20e siècle d’Orléans. His solo, collaborative, chamber and concerto appearances have taken him across 4 continents. Known for his colorful approach to programming and insightful commentary from the stage, Choi has recently appeared in recital at the National Arts Centre of Canada, Carnegie-Weill Recital Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Kravis Center, the Library of Congress.