Biography
Paul Radke plays 2nd Trombone in the Los Angeles Philharmonic, a position he has held since 2018. He began playing the trombone at the age of 10 on his father’s instrument, which was originally obtained in a trade for a pig. He grew up in Overland Park, Kansas, where he studied with Dr. Nathan Dishman and Roger Oyster. Paul holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied under Dr. John Marcellus and Larry Zalkind, and a Master’s Degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where he studied under Allen Barnhill. Before joining the Philharmonic, he spent the 2017-2018 season as Acting 2nd Trombone with the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra. He has also performed with the Kansas City Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, and Houston Symphony. In 2016, Paul won both the Frank Smith Solo Competition and the Lewis Van Haney Philharmonic Prize at the International Trombone Festival held in New York City. He has spent summers at the Eastern Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, and Chautauqua Music Festival. Paul is also an Eagle Scout. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, barbequing, reading, and watching baseball.