Anthony Mills first learned to play alto saxophone from Mr. Cason at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School in Oakland, CA at the age of 8 and continued music when he moved on to Westlake Middle School where Mr. Porter encouraged him to play baritone, tenor and soprano sax with the school band.  At this time Anthony also began to teach himself bass guitar at home.

At age 14 Anthony became involved in the after school music program at Allen Temple Baptist Church where he was a member and it was at their summer music program that he first met Oaktown Jazz Workshops’ Founding Director, Khalil Shaheed.  Later that year Oaktown Jazz Workshops performed at the retirement party for Allen Temple’s Minister of Music and Performing Arts, Betty Gadling.  Anthony performed with Oaktown Jazz Workshops that night and afterwards, Educational Director, Ravi Abcarian invited him to become a regular member of the group.

Soon Anthony was performing at dozens of community events with OJW and by his senior year in high school he was playing baritone, alto, soprano sax as well as bass guitar and upright bass with the group!

Anthony graduated from Oakland Technical High School in 2013 and is now attending Laney College.  He continues to perform music and works at Oakland High School with his former High School Band Director, Mr. Byrd, as a sectional leader and regularly mentors young musicians at Oaktown Jazz Workshops.  When asked about Oaktown Jazz Workshops, Anthony replied, “Best experience I ever had.”