Isabella Gilligan is a 17-year-old trumpet player and a senior at Lower Merion High School. She plays principal trumpet in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and currently studies privately with Nozomi Imamura. Isabella also plays in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra's brass ensemble, Bravo Brass, and the University of Pennsylvania Wind Ensemble as first trumpet. Outside of her own performance, Isabella also teaches multiple middle-school-aged trumpet players in the Greater Philadelphia Area and has loved serving as a mentor to younger students as the co-lead of the Key of She Jazz programming for the Lower Merion School District.
Isabella has enjoyed many exciting musical opportunities and experiences. In 2025, she was selected for the PMEA All-State Orchestra after playing first cornet in the All-State Band in 2024 as a sophomore. In addition, she has participated in multiple summer programs, including Interlochen's World Youth Symphony Orchestra in 2025, where she studied with John Aley and Caleb Hudson, and the New England Conservatory Summer Orchestra Institute in 2024. She has also performed in several masterclasses with renowned performers, including Hunter Eberly of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Eli Epstein, formerly of the Cleveland Orchestra.
Outside of music, Isabella enjoys long walks, seasonal baking, and reality TV. She looks forward to beginning her studies at Northwestern University, where she plans to pursue a dual degree in trumpet performance and political science. She looks forward to the opportunities ahead as she continues to grow as a musician, mentor, and student.
10 Questions with Isabella Gilligan:
1. Can you tell us how you first got started with the trumpet and what drew you to the instrument?
As silly as it sounds, my decision to play trumpet was pretty much random, just a lucky guess, really. I played percussion for two years in elementary school, and although I loved ensemble playing and music, it started to feel just a little bit off. I started trumpet the summer before middle school and immediately loved it! Since then, I’ve found so many reasons to love the trumpet, though, and most of it centers around its versatility. I love the range of what we get to do in orchestra. We play so much gorgeous lyrical material in brass chorales and orchestral solos, but we also get a lot of fun brassy moments, too. There’s also such a diverse range for what trumpets can do; they’re found in orchestra, band, jazz, funk music, brass ensemble, and most pit orchestras. Additionally, there's several different types of trumpets that we get to play, including C, Bb, Eb, piccolo, flugelhorn, cornet, and rotary trumpets. I think it's probably, overall, the most versatile instrument out there!
2. What is it like to be a section leader in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra?
It's been a really fun and exciting experience to lead my section this year. As section leader, I got to perform the Pines of Rome offstage solo, arguably the most famous and beautiful lyrical excerpt in the trumpet repertoire, in the Kimmel Center. Having that opportunity was really a pivotal moment in my playing, because it was the first major solo that I played in Marian Anderson Hall. I’ve also really enjoyed taking on the responsibility of leading the section and serving as a positive example for my section. The little moments of giving advice and making small musical tweaks are really what make it rewarding. As a whole, the section this year has great chemistry and talent, and stepping into leadership with them has truly been a blessing.
3. What’s something that surprised you about your instrument when you were first learning to play?
That it was hard! I, like so many people, thought trumpet was just blowing into the mouthpiece and moving your fingers. I had no idea how much went into it, between all of the muscles in your face that are involved, how your tongue moves, and of course, air and support. Not to mention, you also need pretty fast fingers. Trumpet is so much harder than most people (including me) tend to realize, and your approach only becomes more delicate and detailed the longer you play.
4. What challenges have you faced as a young musician, and how have you overcome them?
Being a female trumpet player definitely has come with some challenges. Brass, and trumpet specifically, is definitely a bit of a boys’ club, and I’ve definitely had people be a bit rude and condescending towards me. Mostly, I’ve struggled with other players assuming that I’m not good at my instrument because I’m female and having low expectations for me. For me, what helped me overcome that challenge was using it as motivation to help me improve. Once I surpassed the people who doubted me, they stopped feeling so important to me. Overall, it taught me to ignore (as well as I can) what other people think of me. My progress is independent of what they think, as long as I let it be!
5. How has studying music in Philadelphia influenced your development as a musician?
I think the proximity of the Philadelphia Orchestra is something that makes studying in Philadelphia really amazing. There’s a huge volume of professional musicians in the area, and I’ve been lucky to be mentored by several Philadelphia freelancers and members of the Philadelphia Orchestra during my time studying in the area. Music and orchestra is such a huge part of Philly’s culture, and it's really inspiring to be around as a young musician.
6. What are your favorite performance venues or musical experiences in Philadelphia?
I love, of course, playing in Marian Anderson Hall. It’s just such a breathtaking place to play, and I love having the experience playing there in PYO (Philadelphia Youth Orchestra) and seeing the Philadelphia Orchestra as an audience member. Regardless of which chair you’re sitting in, it's just incredible. Beyond the Kimmel Center, I love performing with Bravo Brass in St. Mary’s on Locust. The acoustics are so wonderful, and the experience of playing with a brass ensemble in such a lovely space is truly unmatched.
7. How do you balance your academic responsibilities with your musical pursuits?
It’s always been important to me to keep up with school in addition to music, since my goal has been to pursue two degrees. For me, the most important skill to develop was time management. Every minute is important, and using the time that I have as efficiently as possible has allowed me to keep up really well without getting stressed or overworked. I do homework on SEPTA, listen to study videos while I walk to rehearsal, and bring my assigned reading to PYO for when the trumpets are tacet. Optimizing those times where I would otherwise not be as productive has really allowed me to achieve a balance where I can succeed in both areas.
8. What’s your favorite thing about Philadelphia?
I really love my afternoons after PYO when the sun is out, and I can walk to Rittenhouse while I wait for my train. I’ll grab a bagel and an iced latte and just enjoy the sun for a bit after a morning of rehearsing. I also love walking through Rittenhouse at night during the Christmas season on my way to Bravo Brass. The lights in the park are so pretty and festive, and they put me in a really cheery mood before I go in for rehearsal.
9. Looking ahead, what are your goals for your musical and academic journey in college?
I’m extremely excited to embark on my collegiate studies next year as I will be pursuing a dual degree in political science and trumpet performance at Northwestern University. My main goal as I study at Northwestern University is to learn as much as possible from those around me. I really look forward to entering my college trumpet studio, taking interesting classes, and meeting people who are different from me.
10. What advice would you give to other young people who want to pursue their passions?
Don’t let yourself hold you back! You can only ever be as good as you let yourself be, so don’t hinder your own progress. Also, be honest with yourself. Don’t let what you think others want from you or what you used to want for yourself dictate your future path. You should feel free to change as you grow and allow your goals and plans to change with you.
Isabella's Recommended Playlist:
