AW: What first drew you to classical music? 

David Bilger: I had always had an interest in classical music, since it was the music that was always playing in my home growing up. Throughout my formative early years on the trumpet, I studied "classical" trumpet for technique, but also played a lot of other types of music. In fact, I was given a college scholarship by Woody Herman, which came about as the result of a jazz solo competition.

During my undergraduate years in college, I always tried to balance classical playing with jazz and commercial playing, so that I would be more marketable in the "real" world. Most symphony orchestras do some sort of pops programming, so I wanted to be ready for that, as well. During my free lance years in New York (prior to getting full time orchestral employment) I played symphonic repertoire, ballet, opera, chamber music, solos, jazz, commercial and even subbed Broadway shows. It was only after joining the Philadelphia Orchestra that I ended up focusing all my energies in classical playing.