I am really fortunate. The two orchestras I play with most are
the New York Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony.
I suspect that there are those that wonder how one earns
such opportunities.
Here is the magic formula:
Years and years of study, listening, practicing, adapting
and being a good musical citizen.
I know how these players play because I have been studying
their style for 25 years. These are the greatest brass players in the world and
I have made it a life-long quest to sound like them. Countless hours of
practice and study have gone into my success. I am fortunate. Lucky? No.
Fortunate. My work has been recognized and has paid off.
There are lots of young hot-shot players around that never
get the chances I get because they lack one of the above ingredients. Two years
(or four) at a conservatory can help one become a highly proficient player but
there is significantly more to it than that.
Being a good musical citizen may be the single most elusive
ingredient. It is also the least addressed topic in school. It is easy to learn
to play a great Bolero or Tuba mirum. Having a personality that gels well with
others is not nearly as easy. Sections in any of the big orchestras are a
delicate ecosystem and in order to function comfortably the newbie must be
ultra-sensitive to the social dynamic.
Smile, remember you are a guest and play your butt off.