Finding Joy After Julliard

Welcome to the #MusicEdLove Podcast. On this episode, host Angela Ammerman welcomes Merideth Hite Estevez, a talented oboist, podcaster, performer, author, and mother, onto the show. Angela and Merideth catch up after having known each other since their college days at CCM. 

Dr. Merideth Hite Estevez is a spiritual space-maker for artists as a writer, coach, educator, and performer. As an oboist, Merideth has performed with top orchestras in the US and abroad, including the Met Opera and PhillyPops, and is currently the English hornist/Second Oboe of the Chamber Orchestra of NY. She has served on faculties of numerous universities and schools of music, most recently as Associate Professor of Oboe at University of Delaware. Her education has taken her all over the world—Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Yale School of Music, Fulbright Scholar to Germany, and to The Juilliard School where she received her doctorate in oboe.

She has been a featured speaker at Google, Longy School of Music, ShePodcasts LIVE, Hope*writers, Music Institute of Chicago, and more. As a coach, she has helped thousands of artists overcome creative block through her popular online creative recovery clusters and has served as an executive coach for all types of arts leaders, from major museum directors to deans of conservatories and art schools. 

Dr. Estevez’s award-winning podcast, Artists for Joy, was in the top 250 podcasts in the US in the Self-Help category in January 2023 and is currently top 1.5% of podcasts worldwide. Her first book, “The Artist’s Joy: A Guide to Getting Unstuck, Embracing Imperfection, and Loving Your Creative Life,” debuts in Spring 2024 from Broadleaf Books.

Originally from South Carolina, Merideth now resides in Metro Detroit, Michigan, with her husband, Rev. Edwin Estevez, daughter Eva, and son Eli.

As a multifaceted artist, Merideth discusses her love for performing as an oboist and her involvement with various regional orchestras. She also talks about her work as a writer and her upcoming book, “The Artist’s Joy,” which focuses on helping creatives experiencing creative block, burnout, and creative wounding.

The conversation dives into the topic of managing time and energy as a creative individual. Merideth emphasizes the importance of recognizing the different energies of being a manager and a maker. She advises taking large chunks of time for creative exploration and play to counteract the draining managerial tasks.

Angela asks Merideth about her experiences at Juilliard and how they shaped her as an artist. Merideth opens up about the difficulties she faced in such a high-pressure environment and how it led to a loss of joy in her music. She later found a path to rekindle her creative passion through Julia Cameron’s book, “The Artist’s Way,” which explores the connection between spirituality and creativity.

As a Suzuki parent, Merideth’s perspective on “creating in the cracks” has evolved. She encourages others to find joy and playfulness in their creative pursuits, even within short periods of time. Merideth believes that viewing creativity as an act of devotion and being intentional about accessing one’s creative spirit can make a significant difference.

The episode wraps up with Angela and Merideth discussing the upcoming release of Merideth’s book, “The Artist’s Joy,” and where listeners can find her work and engage with her online, such as her podcast, “Artists for Joy,” and her website, ArtistsForJoy.org. Angela expresses her excitement for the book and encourages listeners to pre-order it. They end the show by sending love and encouragement to all creative minds, students, and fellow musicians.

@artistsforjoy 

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