Today’s guest is Mike Sachs, principal trumpet of the Cleveland Orchestra. I want to thank Mike for his generosity, and for sitting with me for over 3 hours, despite the fact that we had never met. Mike and I share a common hero, Thomas Stevens. As some recurring listeners may recall, I dedicated this podcast to Stevens when I launched it. I miss Tom, and what he represented. His death has left a void in the trumpet community, which has continued its forward push into a type of teaching that favors technical prowess over musical integrity.

Mike and I speak at length about a number of topics including the importance of leaving school and entering the professional world, the European diaspora and the rise of American orchestras, the importance of history as a catalyst for cultivating enduring musical legacies, and many more subjects.