Anthony Anurca is the first ever Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra participant to become a core orchestra member.

What do you want patrons of the Symphony to know about you?
Jacksonville is my hometown. My dad was in the Navy and relocated our family to Mayport Naval Base and shortly thereafter, I was born. My parents bought a house at the beaches and have since retired and still live in their home. I have a brother and two sisters. My brother currently lives in Hawaii with his wife. One sister lives here in Jacksonville with her husband and two kids and my other sister lives in Savannah. I recently bought a condo in Springfield inside an old school house and live inside half of the auditorium. It came with a small stage that was built in the living room and so I’ve started a house concert series called, Schulkonzert, German for school concert. Like a composer’s work catalogue, each concert is given an opus number. The next one will be, Schulkonzert, Op. 3.

What would you be doing if you weren’t a professional musician?
I would be a designer of some sorts. I love architecture, fashion, interiors, and urban planning.

What do you do in your spare time (other than practice!)?
I’m a Reiki practitioner and enjoy helping others heal their minds and bodies through energy work and crystal healing.

What is your favorite thing about being a professional musician?
There are many things to enjoy about being a professional musician. The art elevates humanity to a higher level of consciousness and my favorite thing is the transcendence from the density of our world that orchestral music can simultaneously bring to the musician performing and to the listener observing.

What sport(s) do you participate in?
I go to the gym regularly and participate in cross-fit and bodybuilding routines and I do enjoy yoga as well.

Do you have a favorite team?
I’m the bassoon professor at University of Florida, so go gators!!!

What is your favorite food?
My dad is Filipino and anything from Asian cuisine is my favorite. Show me noodles or sushi and I’m a happy man. A new favorite of mine after a recent visit to Japan would be, okonomiyaki – the Japanese savory pancake.

Who is your favorite composer?
Hmmm…. There are so many great composers and to choose one would be difficult. It depends on my mood at the moment and so this favorite can change, however, I find myself currently resonating with Mahler.

What are you currently listening to?
Ravel, Radical Face, Ella Fitzgerald, Calvin Harris, Rachmaninov, Rickolus, Arcade Fire, Pink Martini, Cher, Mozart, Madonna, Stravinksy, Lady Gaga, Tchaikovsky…..to name a few.

Education
Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; New World Symphony