Black Orchestral Principals Showcase New Works and Chamber Music in Inspirational Program
This new program highlights Demarre McGill, Titus Underwood, Anthony McGill, and Bryan Young — four Black artists who are orchestral principals and inspirational leaders in the field. Featuring a new set of pieces written for the participating musicians by James Lee III titled Principal Brothers, other works include chamber music selections for flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon in various configurations.
Concert Program*
James Lee III: Principal Brothers No. 1 [D.McGill]
Villa-Lobos: Quartet
Lee: Principal Brothers No. 2 [Underwood]
****
Lee: Principal Brothers No. 3 [A.McGill]
Valerie Coleman: Rubispheres [D.McGill, A.McGill, Young]
Lee: Principal Brothers No. 4 [Young]
Errollyn Wallen: Commission by PCMS [McGill-Underwood-McGill-Young]
*Repertoire subject to change
Hailed for his “trademark brilliance, penetrating sound and rich character” (The New York Times), clarinetist Anthony McGill is one of classical music’s most recognizable and brilliantly multifaceted figures. In addition to his dynamic international solo and chamber music career, McGill is principal clarinet of the New York Philharmonic—the first African-American principal player in the organization's history.
Demarre McGill has gained international recognition as a soloist, recitalist, chamber and orchestral musician. Winner of an Avery Fisher Career Grant and the Sphinx Medal of Excellence, he has appeared as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Seattle, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Grant Park, San Diego and Baltimore symphony orchestras and, at age 15, the Chicago Symphony.
Titus Underwood is Principal Oboe of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and the 2021 recipient of the Sphinx Medal of Excellence award and a 2021 Midsouth Regional Emmy® winner for his work on « We Are Nashville ». Prior to the NSO, he was Acting Associate Principal of Utah Symphony, and has performed as guest principal of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Miami Symphony Orchestra, and Florida Orchestra. A sought-after freelance performer, Titus has also performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony, Puerto Rico Symphony, and San Diego Symphony. Titus regularly plays principal oboe in Chineke!, the Gateways Music Festival, and Bellingham Festival of Music.
Bryan tours the US and internationally as bassoonist and co-founder of the Poulenc Trio. Bryan serves as the principal bassoonist of the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra. Bryan studied at the Peabody Conservatory with Linda Harwell and at Yale with Frank Morelli. Bryan has performed as soloist with the Baltimore Symphony and the National Symphony Orchestra. The Washington Post writes that his playing "dances with a lightness and grace uncommon for his instrument,' and the Baltimore Sun has praised his "particularly beautiful playing, technical agility and understated elegance.'
Contact Us
We invite you to contact us now about finding a date to bring James Lee III: Principal Brothers to your series in the 2024/25 season.