Craig Taylor is a trumpet freelancer and contractor in the Washington DC area. He is the trumpet player and contractor for the National Theater as well as Ford's Theater. He studied at East Carolina University with Vince dimartino before Working full-time for Disney World and a show called blast. after years of touring with them, he found his way to New York and played on Broadway for a time before landing in the Washington DC area.

In this week's episode, we hear about his experience with family, how he's risen the ranks, and his approach to balancing life as a freelancing musician

 In today's short story of modern Trumpeter podcast, Mitch Cooper talks about his journey of getting into the Disneyland band from the All-American College band. 

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Jerry Hey is one of the most iconic horn arrangers and trumpet players of our day. Emerging from the Hollywood studio scene of the 1980s, Jerry revolutionized the sound of pop music through his innovative horn arrangements and performances. This week we hear how he got going, his experiences with Quincy Jones, and how he has made a name and career for himself over the last 40 years.

In this short story of the Modern Trumpeter, Craig Taylor talks about why he quit the trumpet and his return to playing after a couple of years. 

In today's episode of the Modern Trumpeter, we learn more from Louis Dowdeswell and his journey as a musician, content creator, and family man. 

Louis Dowdeswell is an internationally acclaimed trumpeter, bandleader, and educator whose career spans recording studios, concert halls, television, and some of the world’s most iconic stages. Known for his powerful lead trumpet playing, versatility across genres, and innovative approach to music education, Louis has become one of the defining voices of the trumpet in his generation.

Kellin Hanas is an up and coming star in the trumpet world. We discuss her social media presence and growth, her background in jazz, music education and much more. Learn more about Kellin and her career as a trumpet player, and her plans for the future.

 In this week's short story, Brian recounts one of his first major gigs in Spain and the tiger that was a part of the show. 

 In this week's episode of the Modern Trumpeter Podcast, we get to sit down with Mitch Cooper, the Lead Trumpet for the Disneyland Band and Big Band Voodoo Daddy. Mitch tells us about his background and how he ended up getting both of these jobs as a trumpet player. 

Bob Malone has been one of Yamaha's top instrument technicians and designers, with his specialty being in the trumpet. He has designed the Xeno series as well as helped develop horns for Bobby Shew, Wayne Bergeron and many others. In this episode he talks about his journey from freelance work into instrument repair and design. 

Episode 1 – Brian MacDonald: Life in the Airmen of Note 

In our very first episode of The Modern Trumpeter Podcast, we sit down with Brian MacDonald, trumpet player with the United States Air Force’s premier jazz ensemble, the Airmen of Note. Brian shares his journey from college trumpet studies to winning a spot in one of the top military jazz bands in the world. We talk about the audition process, what day-to-day life looks like as a professional military musician, and the unique opportunities and challenges that come with serving as both an artist and an airman. 

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to land a career in a military ensemble—or what the gig really looks like beyond the stage—this conversation offers valuable insights for students, educators, and aspiring professionals alike.