MindfulOpus

S2 Ep #10: This is one of those episodes I've been sitting with for a while. I have some big news to share, and honestly, even typing that feels surreal. After more than 20 years as a violist with the Cleveland Orchestra, I have officially stepped away from my position and am now full-time in MindfulOpus!! It's the kind of decision that took years to arrive at, and yet the moment it became real, m...

S2 Ep #9: Self-trust might be one of the most quietly radical acts we can practice as artists — and honestly, as humans. It sounds simple, but for so many of us in this field, it's anything but. This episode is a reflection on something I've been circling all season long, and something I've wrestled with deeply in my own life: what it means to actually trust yourself, follow your gut, and stop out...

S2 Ep #8: Kayleigh Miller is someone I've wanted to have on the podcast since the beginning. And our conversation today doesn't disappoint: we talk about musicians' body health, injury prevention, and what it means to use your voice to advocate for a healthier, more honest industry. I first discovered her on Instagram — not through her movement work, but through her voice. She writes openly about...

S2 Ep #7: There are moments in life when the map disappears. You thought you knew where you were headed, and then something shifts — a loss, a disappointment, an unexpected turn — and suddenly you're navigating without a clear north star. I've been there, and so have many of the clients I work with. This episode is my honest attempt to share what has actually helped me and them find some steadines...

S2 Ep #6: This episode felt like a conversation I'd been wanting to have for a long time — one that goes beyond the highlight reel and into the real, sometimes messy, always human experience of building a sustainable life as a professional musician. Theresa and I talk about injuries, burnout, rejection, perfectionism, and the surprisingly beautiful things that can grow out of our hardest professio...

S2 Ep #5: The Four Pillars of Well-Being for Performers Most of us who pursue music or are seeking excellence in any endeavour have been told at some point that it has to be everything. That if you're not living, eating, and breathing the work, you're not serious enough. But I've found the opposite to be true, and this episode offers concrete ways of implementing lasting change in support of your...

S2 Ep #4: There comes a point in any creative life where pushing harder stops working. Where the effort that once felt necessary begins to feel depleting, and the question starts to shift from "How do I make this work?" to "Is this actually aligned with who I am?" This conversation explores that turning point—what it means to return to yourself, and the courage it takes to choose that path even wh...

S2 Ep #3: How To Work Hard Without Beating Yourself Up    Hard work is something most artists know intimately. But the way we relate to that hard work can make the difference between sustainable growth and eventual burnout.   In this solo episode, I take a deeper look at a concept that sits at the heart of MindfulOpus: shifting from grind to kind. For many of us, the word grind has become synonymo...

S2 Ep #2: On Perfectionism, Performance Anxiety, and the Purpose of Music   Perfectionism and performance anxiety are two forces that so many artists struggle with, often quietly and alone. In this conversation, I sit down with concert pianist, author, and New York Times contributor Jonathan Biss to explore the powerful connection between perfectionism, control, and anxiety in the lives of perform...

S2 Ep #1: As artists, it's easy to get caught up in the pressure to meet others' expectations, which can lead us to create in ways that feel disconnected from our true selves. In this episode, I'll guide you through a practical framework for discovering your personal values- the foundation for creating authentic, fulfilling, and sustainable art, both on and off stage. By uncovering and aligning wi...

In this season, we're diving even deeper into the human behind the art, exploring how mindfulness, well-being, and authenticity are essential for creatives like you. If you're ready to move away from toxic grind culture and embrace a more balanced, empowered life, you're in the right place.   I'm Jo Zakany, violist with The Cleveland Orchestra, yoga teacher, and coach for classical musicians. Toge...

S1 Ep #10: A concertmaster's perspective on perfectionism, nerves, and the permission to be human In the season 1 finale of The MindfulOpus Podcast, I'm joined by my dad, Ron Patterson — world-class violinist, former concertmaster of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, and Miami Philharmonic (among others), member of Duo Patterson, and recently retired professor of violin at the Univer...

S1 Ep #9: 7 tools to help you actually enjoy performing again In this episode, I share a compassionate, practical, and research-informed approach to one of the biggest challenges we face as performers: what to do when the nerves show up — on stage, in auditions, in big meetings, and in any moment that really matters. Building on the personal performance framework from last week's episode, I walk y...

S1 Ep #8: My two-part process to help you find clarity, confidence, and calm before any big artistic event What if preparing for a big performance didn't have to feel overwhelming, rigid, or all-consuming? In this episode, I'm sharing the exact framework I use with my coaching clients to help them create their own personal process — one that supports not just their playing, but supports them as a...

S1 Ep #7: A story of reconnection, self-belief, and coming home to your art. What happens when you've spent years feeling like your playing is never good enough, you're disconnected from your art, or unsure whether this music-thing you once loved is still right for you? In this deep and meaningful conversation, violinist Lauren Roth-G ó mez — Acting Associate Concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony...

S1 Ep #6: When your worth depends on your results, and how that pressure leads to burnout. If your inner-critic has been running the show — the one that tells you you're only as worthy as your latest performance, audition result, or practice session — this episode is for you. In this conversation, I share the real cost of being your own worst critic: how tying your worth to your results quietly fu...

S1 Ep #5: A conversation around vulnerability, long-haul artistry, and the case for communication over perfection—through the lens of a 35-year run in one of the most high-pressure chairs in the orchestral world. In this episode, I sit down with my friend and musical hero, Joshua Smith—Grammy-nominated Principal Flute of The Cleveland Orchestra. We trace his early musical journey (yes, it all star...

S1 Ep #4: If you've ever felt like music has taken over your entire life — the long hours, the pressure, the constant fear of not doing enough — this episode is for you. We've been taught that total dedication is the only path to mastery. But what if that belief is actually holding you back? In this episode, I introduce The MindfulOpus Well-Being Wheel — a framework designed to help musicians move...

S1 Ep #3: A conversation around mindfulness, perfectionism, well-being, and rewriting the audition story from the inside out. In this powerful conversation, I sit down with James Patterson , Tredjestilling Horn (3rd/1st horn) player with the Oslo Philharmonic , to explore the intersection of mindfulness, performance, and the audition journey. James shares how mindfulness first became a steadying f...

S1 Ep #2: Are you chasing perfection...or pursuing excellence? In this episode of the MindfulOpus Podcast, I dive into one of the most common — and costly — mindsets musicians face: perfectionism. On the surface, perfection can feel like a motivator. But in reality, it's a trap that leads to performance anxiety, burnout, and a loss of joy in music-making long-term. I'll share why perfection isn't...

S1 Ep #1: In the classical music world, we're often taught that struggle is the price of greatness. That if you just sacrifice a little more—your health, your time, your relationships—you'll finally get the result you've been chasing. But what if our artistry didn't have to come at the cost of our humanity? In this debut episode, I take you behind the curtain of my own journey - and when my bigges...

Hello and welcome to the MindulOpus podcast! I'm your host, Jo Zakany — violist with The Cleveland Orchestra, yoga teacher, and coach for classical musicians. Here, we switch from Grind to Kind in our artistic process – so that artists like you can avoid burnout, ditch performance anxiety, and create a thriving, healthy life -  on and off stage.  I'm so glad you're here! Let's get into it.   Seaso...