is one of classical music’s most recognizable and brilliantly multifaceted figures. He serves as the principal clarinet of the New York Philharmonic — that orchestra’s first African-American principal player — and maintains a dynamic international solo and chamber music career. Hailed for his “trademark brilliance, penetrating sound and rich character” (The New York Times), as well as for his “exquisite combination of technical refinement and expressive radiance” (The Baltimore Sun), McGill also serves as an ardent advocate for helping music education reach underserved communities and for addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in classical music. McGill was honored to take part in the inauguration of President Barack Obama, premiering a piece written for the occasion by John Williams and performing alongside violinist Itzhak Perlman, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and pianist Gabriela Montero.

A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, McGill previously served as the principal clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera and associate principal clarinet of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. In-demand as a teacher, he serves on the faculty of the Juilliard School, the Curtis Institute of Music, and Bard College’s Conservatory of Music. He also serves as the Artistic Advisor for the Music Advancement Program at the Juilliard School, on the Board of Directors for both the League of American Orchestra and the Harmony Program, and the advisory council for the InterSchool Orchestras of New York.

First Violinist Ellen Chen-Livingston joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 1998 under the baton of Mariss Jansons. She holds the Selma Wiener Berkman Memorial Chair. Prior to her engagement with the PSO, she served as a member of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and the New World Symphony.

A native of Arlington, TX, Ellen began violin at age six. Her early influences and teachers were Bruce and Joanne Erwin, and Robert Davidovici. A graduate of The Juilliard School, Ellen completed the Accelerated Degree Program and received both Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees in five years as a student of Cho-Liang Lin. Ellen was invited by Jaime Laredo to serve as concertmaster of the New York String Seminar Orchestra. She also spent summers at the Aspen Music Festival, Tanglewood Music Festival, and National Repertory Orchestra. Ms. Chen-Livingston has appeared as soloist with the PSO on numerous Community Engagement and Chamber Orchestra concerts. She has also collaborated with Pinchas Zukerman, Osmo Vanska, and Andres Cardenes in chamber music performances.

Dedicated to teaching young students, Ellen maintains a private studio in her home in the South Hills area of Pittsburgh. Ellen is married to Garnett Livingston, chef and owner of La Maison Private Dining. Together they enjoy fine dining, wine, and travel with their three children.

“Love at first listen” is how Miloš describes the moment when, as a child in Montenegro, he first picked up the old guitar that was lying around his childhood home gathering dust. Montenegro in the early 1990s was not an obvious gateway to future classical success, hence his family were cautiously supportive when, aged 14, Miloš decided to go to a specialist music school rather than a grammar school. Leaving the Balkans and arriving in London to take up a coveted place at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music was, he says, “a bit like going to Mars. I was clueless.”

Fast forward to 2010, Miloš signed his first record deal with the classical label Deutsche Grammophon and before long, he was performing sell out concerts as a soloist with international orchestras and in recitals. He appeared in some of the most important concert halls and at major festivals around the world, while continuously topping music charts with his best-selling recordings. One of the highlights of that period was his solo guitar recital at the Royal Albert Hall to a full house, which was the first of its kind and much lauded by the critics.