A few more comments to keep this thread alive.
Take a look at
http://giulianosommerhalder.com if you'd like to follow this young virtuoso's career. His calendar of solo appearances should be of particular interest to those of you who think that a career as a soloist is impossible.
Also check out
http://www.joukoharjanne.com Jouko's rather well known, but I'd guess that not many of you own more than one of his recordings on Finlandia. Buy them all and listen to a super player and musician.
Lastly, look at
http://danielrosenboom.com Dan will be releasing his first CD on Ninewinds Records around the first of the year and trust me when I say that I've never heard a better, or more interesting, solo trumpet CD (I've listened to raw takes and was absolutely blown away by both the program of important new pieces and by Dan's performance).
I'm encouraged by all of this. Aren't you?
Best,
EC