Breakout Session
Mindfulness for Performers
Sunday, June 24 • 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Presenter: Kristine Hurst-Wajszczuk
Introduced by: Richard Weidlich
Location: Cohiba 10-11
Mental fitness is vital for the demands in a performer’s life. Through interdisciplinary work in wellness, students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham find both the mental toughness and mental calm needed for peak performance. Courses are offered in Wellness for Musicians, as well as Mindfulness for Academic Success through the Honors College. This workshop explores the mindfulness aspect of the course, including establishing helpful behaviors, cognitive restructuring, and Koru mindfulness. Koru was developed at Duke University and is specifically geared toward emerging adults, ages 18-30. A short, guided meditation will be included to give attendees a sense of how it may be used with their own students.
About Kristine Hurst-Wajszczuk
Kristine Hurst-Wajszczuk is associate professor of voice at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Under her direction, UAB Opera has gained national visibility, winning three awards in the NOA Opera Production Competition in the past six years. Her students have appeared in roles at summer programs such as the Aspen Festival, national musical tours, regional theatres, cruise ships, and television shows; they are accepted into top graduate schools and summer programs both here and abroad. She has presented at a NATS Winter Workshop, Central Florida’s NATS Fall Workshop, and Tampa Bay’s NATS Fall Workshop, as well as various national and international conferences, including NATS, NOA, ICVT, CMS, and the Athena Festival. Her research has been published in Journal of Singing and translated into German for Vox Humana. She serves as the Online Index Editor for Journal of Singing and as NATS Vice President for Workshops. Please visit kristinehurst.com.
