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Anthony McGill Plays Leblanc at Presidential Inaugural
Moments before Barack Obama was sworn in as president and delivered his Inaugural Address on Tuesday, January 20th, another South Side Chicagoan produced eloquence, of a musical kind, on a Leblanc by Backun clarinet. Anthony McGill, a clarinetist who joined violinist Itzhak Perlman, the cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the pianist Gabriela Montero, played a piece composed for the occasion by John Williams, perhaps best known for his film scores and pops conducting.
McGill, 29, was chosen from the ranks of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, where he is one of two principal clarinetists, by Mr. Ma, who was asked to help organize the performance. “It’s the most wonderful opportunity, obviously, I’ve ever gotten in my life,” said Mr. McGill at an interview in an Upper West Side cafe near his home a week before the inauguration. “It’s just great to be part of something like this, as a person, as an American, as a musician. If my life as a musician is about reaching out to people, being able to communicate music to the world and to people on my small scale — my clarinet playing — this is obviously such a gift.”
The Leblanc instruments are a fusion of artistry, technology and passion, designed by Morrie Backun. Director of product development for Leblanc professional clarinets, Backun is one of the most respected woodwind designers and technicians in the world today. He has worked with clients that include Ricardo Morales, David Shifrin, Eddie Daniels, James Campbell, Howard Klug, Julian Bliss, Sabine Meyer, Alessandro Carbonare, Wenzel Fuchs, Jessica Phillips, Larry Combs, and other renowned clarinetists. “Everyone at Conn-Selmer is thrilled that an artist of this caliber plays Leblanc”, said Scott Kurtzweil, Marketing Director for Clarinets. “At Leblanc, we are creating a clarinet revolution. We have developed concepts that are challenging the traditional idea of what a clarinet is and can be”.
A highly developed acoustical design of these instruments provides for greater individual expression, while the stunning key work incorporates many unique features that expand the possibilities of performance. Balanced key suspension, 24K gold plated register and thumb tubes, post pivot locking screws, six adjustable key points, and other exclusive features offer today’s finest players the best way to express their true individuality.
For complete information, visit www.leblancclarinets.com.
Conn-Selmer, Inc., the largest manufacturer of band and orchestral instruments and accessories in the United States, is a subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. To contact Conn-Selmer, write to P.O. Box 310, Elkhart, IN 46515-0310 U.S.A. or visit www.conn-selmer.com.