About Christopher Still

I've sat on both sides
of the audition curtain.

After thirty years as a professional orchestra musician — nearly twenty of them at the LA Phil — I know what the people in that room are actually listening for. And it's not what you think.

Christopher Still
Christopher Still
About Christopher Still

I've sat on both sides of the audition curtain.

After thirty years as a professional orchestra musician — nearly twenty of them at the LA Phil — I know what the people in that room are actually listening for. And it's not what you think.

My Story

I spent years auditioning before I understood what auditions were actually testing.

Nobody teaches you this. Not in school, not in lessons, not in masterclasses. I figured it out over forty auditions — most of which I lost. You don't have to.

I've watched brilliant players fall apart on stage — not because they weren't good enough, but because their delivery system failed them. The notes were there. Everything else wasn't.

I created Honesty Pill Coaching because talented people kept spinning their wheels on the wrong problems. The audition process isn't a mystery. It just looks like one from where you're standing.

30
Years as a Professional
Orchestra Musician
20
Years at the
LA Phil
1,000's
Of Auditions Heard
Across Every Instrument
My Story

I spent years auditioning before I understood what auditions were actually testing.

Nobody teaches you this. Not in school, not in lessons, not in masterclasses. I figured it out over forty auditions — most of which I lost. You don't have to.

I've watched brilliant players fall apart on stage — not because they weren't good enough, but because their delivery system failed them. The notes were there. Everything else wasn't.

I created Honesty Pill Coaching because talented people kept spinning their wheels on the wrong problems. The audition process isn't a mystery. It just looks like one from where you're standing.

30
Years as a Professional
Orchestra Musician
20
Years at the
LA Phil
1,000's
Of Auditions Heard
Across Every Instrument
What I Believe
01

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. I've seen it hundreds of times.

02

If it's not working, you might not have a playing problem. What you probably have is a delivery problem.

03

Your brain is part of your instrument. Most musicians never train it.

04

Pressure doesn't lie. It shows you exactly what you've trained — and what you haven't.

Walt Disney Concert Hall
What I Believe
01

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. I've seen it hundreds of times.

02

If it's not working, you might not have a playing problem. What you probably have is a delivery problem.

03

Your brain is part of your instrument. Most musicians never train it.

04

Pressure doesn't lie. It shows you exactly what you've trained — and what you haven't.

Who I Work With

A snapshot of the people in the room.

Every instrument. Every level. Every continent. The one thing they have in common: they're serious about winning — and they know that practicing harder isn't the whole answer.

Locations
United States · France
Canada · Japan
Germany · Mexico
Australia
Instruments
Strings
Winds
Brass
Percussion
Level
Pre-professional
Freelance
Regional orchestras
Major orchestra
Format
100% online
via Zoom
Worldwide
No travel needed
Who I Work With

A snapshot of the people in the room.

Every instrument. Every level. Every continent. The one thing they have in common: they're serious about winning — and they know that practicing harder isn't the whole answer.

Locations
United States · France
Canada · Japan
Germany · Mexico
Australia
Instruments
Strings
Winds
Brass
Percussion
Level
Pre-professional
Freelance
Regional orchestras
Major orchestra
Format
100% online
via Zoom
Worldwide
No travel needed
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About Christopher Still

Pressure isn't a concept I teach. It's a Tuesday night.

Second Trumpet, LA Philharmonic. Founder, Honesty Pill Coaching. 40+ auditions before I won my seat.

For classical musicians

Audition Accelerator

16 weeks of training from someone who took 40+ auditions on the way to winning a seat with the LA Phil. The 90% nobody teaches.

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Year-round support

The Audition Community

A private community for serious musicians who want structure, accountability, and momentum. Mini-courses. Live Q&As. Monday Goals. Friday Wins. $45/month.

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For high performers

Performance Coaching

Private, long-term coaching for high achievers who are done spinning. Clarity, momentum, and someone who won't let you off the hook.

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Who is Christopher Still?

More Than a Win — It Finally Clicked

40+ auditions. A lot of failure. One dream job.

I'm a trumpet player with the LA Phil. But what got me here wasn't talent — it was learning to perform under pressure, think clearly under stress, and close the gap between knowing and doing.

In 2017 I founded Honesty Pill. Since then I've coached hundreds of musicians, executives, athletes, and creatives through the same work. Talent is only part of the equation. The rest is strategy, mindset, and delivery.

I'm not here to tell you what you want to hear. I'm here to help you hear yourself think.

Chris @ Honesty Pill | Performance Coaching