Anthony McGill

Senior MD & Head of Investment Banking, WALKER & DUNLOP INC

Search every verified Anthony McGill interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Anthony McGill, principal clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic, discussed receiving the Avery Fisher Prize in a September 2020 interview. He described learning of the award during a surprise dinner with friends, calling it "one of the greatest honors of my life." McGill said he planned to use the prize money to fund scholarships for students in the Music Advancement Program at Juilliard, where he serves as artistic director, stating that "financial considerations don't have to be a roadblock for students getting further study during the summer." McGill also addressed his decision to perform "America the Beautiful" during a protest against racial injustice. He said his wife suggested the piece after he woke up "feeling devastated and helpless," and that he altered the melody into a minor key as part of "a written statement of protest." He commented that "growing up in America as a black kid, that isn't really shocking to me" regarding racial violence, and expressed that classical music has "only recently" begun to create "actual change" around diversity and equity. McGill noted that despite the stress of increased performance and teaching commitments during the pandemic, he finds it difficult to decline participation in events that help keep music alive.