“Getting Down to Brass Tactics” – An Interview with Principal Trombonist, Craig Mulcahy and Bass Trombonist Chance Gompert, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

A top-level orchestra audition after a 16-year break sounds like a nightmare, until you hear how Craig Mulcahy rebuilt his process and walked away with the Principal Trombone seat in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Craig shares what pushed him to look beyond Washington, D.C., how uncertainty around the Kennedy Center changed his risk math, and why “audition shape” is a separate, intense kind of training even for seasoned principal players. Along the way, we get practical about the unglamorous details that actually move the needle: consistency, concept, and the discipline to practice like you only get one shot.
Bass trombonist Chance Gompert brings the other side of the story: returning to Atlanta after a Nashville tenure-track experience, and what it takes to grow from a careful, people-pleasing sub into a confident, fully present colleague. He explains how bass trombone sits in a unique spot for doubling, why focusing on one lane can pay off, and how the post-COVID wave of openings created a rare window for audition reps across the country. If you’ve ever wondered how players get enough real audition experience when there’s only one chair, his answer is equal parts timing, documentation, and relentless learning.
We also dig into the tools both guests swear by for winning orchestral auditions: recording mock auditions to hear what committees hear, building a feedback loop that sets daily goals, and playing for other musicians to mirror the pressure of performing behind a screen. We close with perspective for anyone feeling discouraged: committees are made of humans who want you to succeed, recovery matters, and every audition can make you better if you extract the lesson.
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For more information on Craig Mulcahy: https://craigmulcahy.com/

For more information on Chance Gompert: https://www.aso.org/artists/detail/chance-gompert

You can also find Craig on Facebook and Instagram: @mulcbone

And Chance: @cggompert

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