KENNESAW, Ga. | Dec 20, 2022

Grammy Award winner McGill is principal clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra

Kennesaw State University’s Bailey School of Music (BSOM) will host clarinetist Anthony McGill and the Pacifica Quartet on Friday, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. 

 Hailed for his “trademark brilliance, penetrating sound and rich character” (New York Times), clarinetist Anthony McGill enjoys a dynamic international solo and chamber music career and is principal clarinet of the New York Philharmonic—the first African American principal player in the organization's history. He is the recipient of the 2020 Avery Fisher Prize, one of classical music’s most significant awards.

McGill appears as a soloist with top orchestras, not only with the New York Philharmonic, but also the Metropolitan Opera, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and Kansas City Symphony. He performed alongside Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, and Gabriela Montero at the inauguration of President Barack Obama, premiering a piece by John Williams. 

Dr. Julia Bullard, Interim Director of the BSOM, said, “We are so excited to present clarinetist Anthony McGill and the Pacifica Quartet at KSU! These musicians are among the best in the world, and not only will they perform on our beautiful Morgan Concert Hall stage, but they will also teach master classes for our Bailey School of Music string and woodwind students. This will be a rare and profound learning opportunity for our School of Music community. This performance will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of our concert season.”

At KSU, McGill will be joined onstage by the internationally acclaimed Pacifica Quartet. 

Recognized for its virtuosity, exuberant performance style, and often-daring repertory choices, the Pacifica Quartet has achieved international recognition as one of the finest chamber ensembles performing today. 

Named the quartet-in-residence at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in March 2012, the Pacifica was previously the quartet-in- residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and has received multiple Grammy Awards for Best Chamber Music Performance. In 2017, the Pacifica Quartet was appointed to lead the Center for Advanced Quartet Studies at the Aspen Music Festival and School.

McGill serves on the faculty of The Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, and Bard College Conservatory of Music. He is the Artistic Director for the Music Advancement Program at The Juilliard School. In 2020, McGill’s #TakeTwoKnees campaign protesting the death of George Floyd and historic racial injustice went viral.

The concert is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. in Morgan Concert Hall in the Dr. Bobbie Bailey & Family Performance Center. Purchase tickets online or call Patron Services at 470-578-6650. 

--Kathie Beckett