Frank Kaderabek: Principal Trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra on Endurance & Claude Gordon

Frank Kaderabek (longtime principal trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra) shares an unusually candid, practical look at building a real career: auditions, practicing for endurance, switching to C trumpet on the job, and why musical honesty matters more than “tricks.” In this interview, Frank walks through: Growing up in Cicero, Illinois (and the Chicago brass pipeline) West Point Band → Dallas Symphony → Chicago Symphony → Detroit → Philadelphia Orchestra “I took 14 auditions and won 12” — what that reveals about preparation Why he kept a two-hour-a-day practice habit through demanding orchestral careers How he met Claude Gordon, what he respected about Claude’s teaching, and what the Claude Gordon camps / conferences were really like Stories involving Arturo Sandoval and the reality of getting method books behind the Iron Curtain If you’re serious about trumpet playing (classical, commercial, or anything in between), this one is a masterclass in professional mindset: consistency, musical integrity, and doing the work. More resources + integrated practice system: https://www.purtle.com Frank Kaderabek at 94 talks about trumpet and his career. Frank was Principal trumpet with the Philadelphia Orchestra for 20 years and explains how he started and also the connection with Claude Gordon. 00:00 Cicero → Chicago pipeline → early gigs 08:40 West Point band → NYC teachers → first big jobs 18:00 Winning Philadelphia + Ormandy / Philly Sound 21:10 Meeting Claude Gordon + camps + books behind the Iron Curtain 01:00:00 Practice, endurance, and what “pros” actually do daily #trumpet #trumpetlessons #trumpetlife 🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺 This channel focuses on advanced trumpet pedagogy, diagnostic teaching, and integrated practice systems for serious trumpet players and educators. The material is primarily intended for college trumpet majors, professional players, and trumpet teachers, as well as dedicated beginners and comeback players who want a clear, structured approach to long-term development. Rather than promoting a single method or quick fix, the emphasis is on understanding how major trumpet methods function together, why progress stalls, and how to practice with purpose. The approach here assumes a high level of commitment and curiosity about how trumpet playing actually works. For professional consultations, masterclasses (in person or online), and deeper diagnostic work, visit: https://purtle.com