MindfulOpus

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 outsourcing your own authority.

This is a solo episode, and I'm sharing what I've learned — often the hard way — about how musicians and performers can lose that i...

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 the things most people in our industry rarely say out loud. Sitting down with her felt like a conversation I've been wanting to have for a long time, and I think you're go...

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 steadiness in those moments, not a perfect formula, but a set of concepts that can quietly build something I think of as an inner compass.

In this solo epis...

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 professional moments.

Theresa Rudolph is in her 15th season as Assistant Principal Viola of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and she's also on faculty at the University of Toronto and the Taylor Academy at the Ro...

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 life and well-being. 

In this solo episode, I'm sharing the four pillars that sit at the core of my coaching philosophy and at the heart o...

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 when it comes with uncertainty.

Host Jo Zakany is joined by cellist Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir, whose career has spanned some of the world's most renowned stages, including Ca...

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 synonymous with ambition and dedication. But over time I began to realize that the internal energy behind that effort matters just as much as...

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 performers. Jonathan shares openly about his own experiences with perfectionism and how the pressure to never show weakness shaped his life both on and off stage.

In our conversation, we talk about wh...

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 with your values, you can shift from surviving to thriving in your artistry.

This episode will show you how to identify your values and use them as a guide to m...

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. Together, we'll explore how to create an inner compass that guides your artistic journey, empowering you to perform with purpose and clarity. 

Over the next 10 episodes, we'll be exploring conc...

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 University of Washington School of Music.

In this conversation, we reflect on his life in music shaped by high standards, old-school training, and decades of high-stakes performance — and how Ron's relationship to perfectionism, nerves, and mistakes evolved over time.

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 you through 7 powerful tools drawn from my decades as a performing artist and my work coaching high-level musicians. Each tool comes with a concrete exercise so you can begin shifting yo...

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 whole human — both leading up to a big event and on the day itself.

Whether you're preparing for an audition, competition, recital, solo or orchestral feature, or 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-Gómez — Acting Associate Concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony — shares the inner transformation that led her back to herself, her artistry, and her love of music.

Lauren opens up about:

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 fuels burnout, anxiety, procrastination, and overworking. We'll look at what happens in your nervous system when you practice from a place of threat instead of safety, and...

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 started with a cool flute case), how showtunes and theatre taught him phrasing and stage presence, and why he's not interested in perfection as a goal. Josh shares how curiosity helps him meet the pres...

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 from burnout to balance. You'll learn how nurturing all parts of your life — your music, mind, body, spirituality, hobby, social and rest  — can strengthen your focus, creativity...

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 force for him during school—helping him manage stress, explore healthy hobbies, and cultivate balance beyond the practice room. But the heart of this episode lies in his story of transformation: from feeling trapped in perfectionism and all-or-nothing thinking to...

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 sustainable, and how excellence becomes the foundation for a career and life you can sustain.  Along the way, I'll bring in science-backed facts, and offer the Excellence over Perfection Framework that I use...

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 biggest win also became your biggest wake-up call. From grueling childhood auditions in France, to winning my dream job at 21 and facing career-threatening inju...

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.

Season 1 is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Episodes will be released every other Tuesday.

Also - Come say hi! @mi...