Anthony Gonzalez d’Conde, born in Los Angeles, began his early music education under his father, Pepe Conde. By age 5, he joined the Escuela de Bellas Artes’ youth program in Toluca, Mexico, and at 10, became the youngest student in the adult Professional Diploma program as a percussion major. He toured the country, performing with various ensembles and, at 11, played as a soloist with the State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra.

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After moving back to the U.S., Anthony became principal percussionist and timpanist for the San Diego Youth Symphony and the San Diego Young Artist Orchestra, touring Europe and the Americas from 1992–1995. He participated in numerous extracurricular musical groups and won the San Diego Symphony’s Young Artists’ Concerto Competition in 1994 as the first marimba player to do so. His accolades include the Bank of America Achievement Award in Fine Arts, the President’s Award for Education Excellence by President Bill Clinton, the United States Marines Youth Foundation’s Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence, and the Avedis Zildjian Percussion Award for Excellence in the Art of Percussion.

 

Anthony graduated high school with honors and was accepted into several prestigious universities, ultimately choosing Juilliard. There, he performed extensively at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and other venues, while also working in the Admissions and Financial Aid offices. He attended seminars at the Manhattan Institute of Management and worked for the Lincoln Center Summer Festival, supervising a team that surveyed attendees and analyzed data to improve future festivals. At Juilliard, Anthony helped establish a jazz program with Wynton Marsalis and graduated with a Master’s degree in Percussion Performance in 2001.

He then joined the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra in China as Principal Percussionist and Principal Timpanist, becoming the youngest musician to hold two principal roles in a professional orchestra. In China, Anthony worked as a performer, conductor, composer, and manager, teaching and conducting professional musicians. He has collaborated with various orchestras, including the San Diego Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, American Symphony, Colorado Symphony, and China Philharmonic, among others.

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Anthony has been a professor and director at several universities, including Xinghai Conservatory of Music, Guangzhou University, and Guangdong Foreign Studies University. He developed music programs, ensembles, and international cooperation initiatives, helping students transfer to prestigious universities abroad. He played a key role in establishing Xinghai Conservatory’s international cooperation programs with Sydney Conservatorium and Eastman School of Music.

From 2017, Anthony worked as Executive Director for Poly Development Group at Hele Education, developing international arts education across several branches in China. He managed events, created a better web and social media presence, and implemented a new national computer management system. He directed events in Guangzhou, working with artists like Lang Lang, Yundi Li, and Tan Dun.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Anthony enrolled in the Oxford Executive Leadership online program at Saïd Business School. This program provided him with new management frameworks and team-building skills. His multilingual abilities in Spanish, English, and Chinese have been invaluable in his career.

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Anthony has received 25 state and city awards for excellence in teaching and music education. He created the IPACC “Interactive Percussive Arts Cultural Community” system, integrating various musical disciplines and focusing on performance with others. He has worked with Juilliard Tianjin as an advisor and consultant since 2018.

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Throughout his career, Anthony has balanced management, performance, and education roles, continually developing new programs and initiatives. His diverse experiences have given him a deep understanding of planning and realizing music programs and organizational projects. He has collaborated with famous artists, government officials, university presidents, and CEOs, shaping him into a well-rounded, multicultural individual.

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In recent years, Anthony has premiered 69 new musical works and performed in numerous stage musical shows. His most recent premiere was “The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate” at Lambs Player’s Theatre in Coronado. With his vast experience, Anthony is well-prepared to face any challenge with acceptance, grace, positivity, and patience.