Raised in a musical family, Anthony Woodroffe Jr. developed an appreciation for the arts developed early on. During his formative years, he entered the Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival on several occasions, winning several classes on saxophone, flute, clarinet, and recorder. At the Championship level, he won several titles including "Best Junior Instrumentalist" and "Most Outstanding Wind Instrumentalist". In 2006, Anthony enrolled in the BA (Hons) Jazz Studies degree at the esteemed Leeds College of Music (LCM) in the United Kingdom. At LCM, he had the opportunity to play with outstanding musicians, including Omar Puente, Cuban jazz violinist, who frequently gigs with Courtney Pine. Anthony honed his craft as the flautist for the LCM Latin Big Band and lead alto player with the LCM contemporary Big Band.

 

After completing his degree, he refined what he learnt at LCM by performing and composing as frequently as possible. In April 2010, he was featured with the Caribbean Jazz group Elan Parle at the Tobago Jazz Experience. In April 2012, again, he featured with the group at Jazz on the Beach in Mt. Irvine, Tobago. Tobago Jazz Experience 2014 marked his first performance as a soloist at a major festival. Following his successful debut at that festival, Anthony attended a highly competitive and intensive weeklong workshop with the world-renowned jazz master Paquito D'Rivera, held at Carnegie Hall in New York.

 

Anthony a.k.a. 'Tony Paul' is a "first call" musician on the local jazz scene both as a sideman and as a soloist and has performed extensively with Trinidadian icons Ray Holman and Clive Zanda. He has a particular interest in the development and education of young musicians and (because of this) he has recently completed his Master of Music (MMus) in music education from Boston University. Currently on the teaching staff at the University's The Academy for the Performing Arts (APA) as a Senior Instructor of Woodwinds, Anthony has just been named the Leader of the Jazz & Contemporary Music Studio with the mandate to help develop the jazz curriculum at the APA.