Curtis Mourns Former Trumpet Faculty Member Frank Kaderabek

Curtis mourns the loss of renowned orchestral trumpeter and the school’s former longtime faculty member Frank John Kaderabek, who passed away on December 28, 2023, at age 94, in East Falls, Pennsylvania. A Curtis faculty member from 1975 to 2007, he remains the longest-serving trumpet faculty member in the school’s history.

Born in Cicero, Illinois, in 1929 to Czech immigrants—his father a butcher and mother a seamstress, Mr. Kaderabek’s first love was the violin. While his mother wanted him to play accordion for Czech parties, his parents compromised when a family friend offered to provide lessons and an instrument in middle school. His lessons continued at Morton High School, and he played in Big Bands, polka bands, and Czech dances. In 1946, at age 17, he began studying with Edward Masacek, a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s trumpet section since the early 1920s.

In the fall of 1948, he received a scholarship to attend Chicago Music College (now the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University), where he served as a member of the Chicago Musical College Chorus, and a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago during the ensemble’s 1949–50 season. As the Korean War broke out in 1950, he spent the war years as the solo cornet at the West Point Military Academy. During this period, he studied with Nat Prager and Harry Glantz from the New York Philharmonic.

He served as principal trumpet of the Dallas Symphony (1953–58), associate principal trumpet in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Fritz Reiner (1958–66), principal trumpet of the Detroit Symphony (1966–75), and finally as principal trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra (1975–95), a position he held until his retirement. Mr. Kaderabek was on the faculty at Curtis for over three decades, and he also taught at West Chester University, Oakland University, University of Michigan, and Temple University. Following his retirement, he continued to practice the trumpet every day, and he enjoyed woodworking, refinishing old furniture, collecting model trains, visiting flea markets, and reading. A lifelong student, he began piano lessons in his late eighties.

The Curtis community extends its deepest sympathy and condolences to Mr. Kaderabek’s wife Mary; his children; close friends; family members, colleagues, and students.

Read tributes to Mr. Kaderabek by the International Trumpet Guild and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. To learn more about how to attend the celebration of life and reception on January 6 for Mr. Kaderabek or to join virtually, click HERE.

Photos of Frank Kaderabek courtesy of William Langley Photographers and Legacy.com. Photo of Mr. Kaderabek with student Christopher Konfirst (Trumpet ’05), taken in 2004 by David DeBalko, courtesy of Curtis Archives.