Whatever Your Stage

An audiogram preview of my conversation with Ulysses Owens, Jr.

What happens when success no longer looks like it once did?

Grammy Award-winning jazz musician, drummer, educator, author, entrepreneur, and Juilliard faculty member Ulysses Owens, Jr. joins Whatever Your Stage for a candid conversation about excellence, focus, identity, and navigating change throughout a career.

Ulysses reflects on his journey from Jacksonville to Juilliard and the international stage, the evolution of Don’t Miss a Beat, and his recent decision to step away from the organization after nearly two decades of leadership.

Along the way, we talk about knowing when to let go, setting boundaries, integrating career and family, finding confidence beyond comparison, the importance of his faith, and creating the stillness necessary for clarity.

This episode asks an important question for anyone pursuing excellence: What deserves your best performance in this season?

In Part 2 our focus moves from why confidence matters to how it's built.

What does elite preparation actually look like? How do you prepare months in advance for demanding performances while balancing multiple professional responsibilities? And what happens when real life doesn't give you the ideal amount of time?

Bradley offers a vulnerable look into his practice time, calendar, and how he manages his strong competitiveness as an elite performer.

In Part 1 of this three-part conversation, I sit down with Dr. Bradley Welch, a nationally recognized concert organist with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, to explore the relationship between preparation, performance, and pressure.

Drawing from years of high-level performance experience, Bradley reflects on how early moments shaped his mental approach—and how perfectionism can impact performers.

Bradley addresses what excellence means for him, setting the foundation for a shift from perfect execution to resilient, engaged performances.

What happens when preparation meets pressure?

In this special preview of an upcoming three-part series on Whatever Your Stage, Dr. Tommy Shapard sits down with concert organist Dr. Bradley Welch of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church to explore what it really takes to perform when the moment arrives.

From early experiences with performance anxiety to the mindset behind world-class preparation, this conversation dives into the mental side of excellence.

In this first episode of Whatever Your Stage, Dr. Tommy Shapard sits down with cellist, teacher, and author Dr. Miranda Wilson to talk about the pressures and possibilities of performance. Together they explore the balance between rigor and empathy in teaching, the challenges of outcome vs. growth mindsets, and the role of motivational climate in shaping student success.

Miranda shares candid reflections on the generational shifts in music education — from the days of “shouty” professors to today’s call for authenticity, compassion, and high standards. She also opens up about her widely read article on mental health in the classical music profession, where she uncovers the often-silenced realities of anxiety, depression, and burnout among musicians.

This episode is an invitation to rethink how we define excellence: not only in terms of results, but in fostering resilience, growth, and wellbeing. Whether you’re a teacher, performer, or someone navigating high-pressure environments, Miranda’s insights will resonate.