In this episode, I share the full story of my recent audition for the Principal Trumpet position with the Philadelphia Orchestra — one of the highest-profile trumpet auditions in the world. I made the finals, but the real takeaway wasn’t the result. It was the stillness, clarity, and confidence I felt throughout the entire process, even when things weren’t going my way.

If you’re a trumpet player, brass musician, or anyone preparing for orchestra auditions, I hope this story gives you insight into how mindset, identity, organization, and deliberate practice all come together under pressure.

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