An Evening with Anthony McGill

You may not be able to tell from this photo, but underneath our masks, there’s no doubt we were all smiles. As clarinetists in Professor Todd Levy’s studio at UW-Milwaukee, we were all beyond excited to go watch Anthony McGill perform at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center.

The Principal Clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic, Anthony McGill, is renowned for his artistic brilliance and dynamic performances. Watching McGill play in this concert was an incredible experience. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the world of classical music, McGill is such an expressive performer that anyone can enjoy and appreciate the music it brings to life.  

The concert was part of a series hosted by Frankly Music. Founded by violinist Frank Almond, who was the concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for 25 seasons, the organization strives to provide entertaining performances to the general public. The concert itself was held at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, which is also home to the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra. The energy in the room was filled with anticipation—and when McGill finally walked onto the stage, the amount of excitement only increased.  

McGill’s performance consisted of five pieces spanning a diverse array of composers and genres. The first piece he played was Three Smiles for Tracey by Adolphus Hailstork. The title was appropriate as it was a joyful, bubbly piece. Coincidentally, McGill also ended Three Smiles with a smile, eliciting chuckles from the audience.  

After Three Smiles, McGill played three pieces accompanied by pianist Jeannie Yu. The first was Grand Duo Concertante, Op. 48 by Carl Maria Van Weber, who is known for his clarinet compositions. The piano and clarinet were so in sync it was hard to tell who was playing what part at times, but this made for an even more magical performance.  

The next piece was entitled “Ad Anah?” by James Lee III. Composed after the murder of George Floyd, the Latin phrase “Ad Anah?” translates in English to “How long?” A contemporary piece, the performance was beautifully expressive and emotionally poignant.  

The fourth piece played was Sonata for Clarinet and Piano by Leonard Bernstein, which struck a lighter and more spirited mood. The piece was similar in energy to the first, with McGill as animated as ever. The high notes were crisp and incredibly resonant in tone, and McGill’s dynamic range made the piece all the livelier.  

For the final piece, a string quartet joined McGill on stage to perform Weber’s Clarinet Quintet in B flat Major, Opus 34. Frank Almond helmed the first violin, while Paul Hauer, Linda Numagami and Adrien Zitoun played second violin, viola and cello. The piece itself seemed to cover every mood from joyous to somber to playful. The performance was elevated by the exuberant passion of the quintet, who made the music leap off the page with their vivacious interpretation.  

The entire concert was incredibly entertaining, McGill making the pieces come to life with his exuberant demeanor and passionate expressivity. Every time he came back on stage, he would jump right into the next piece as if he couldn’t wait to immerse himself in the performance. As he played, he would move along to the beat of the music, bringing the story to life with his passionate enthusiasm. He would always end a piece with an extravagant gesture of the clarinet, his smile eliciting even more applause. Music is something that is often seen as a serious craft, however, McGill showed that you can have fun during a performance. For instance, when a burst of applause broke out in between movements of Grand Duo Concertante, he wittily remarked, “there’s more to come” with a grin on his face, to which the audience happily replied with a chuckle.  

Although college kids are busy with homework, jobs and rigorous class schedules, it’d be worth going to one of Frankly Music’s upcoming concerts. For an hour and a half, you can find yourself lost in the music, forgetting about homework or chores. For an hour and a half, I found myself lost in the music that McGill performed. With his elegant tone and illuminating smile, McGill was not only a delight to listen to, but also captivating to watch.

Words can’t always express what music truly is, but perhaps poet Bertold Auerbach sums it up best: “Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” If you ever need a break from the mundanity of daily tasks, go to a Frankly Music concert—because frankly, you won’t regret it.