Playing for the Joy, Not the Ladder

By Dr. Logan Chopyk

August 24, 2026

One of the greatest benefits of a career playing weekly new music concerts is the sheer exposure to different styles. Some of my favorite performances were with artists I never would have discovered if not for the job, and that breadth of exposure is part of what makes a professional a true pro. However, I find myself enjoying my musical journey far more now that I’ve left the orchestra job behind.

There is a unique freedom in finding and playing music simply because I want to play it. I can spend time exploring other instruments, diving into new genres, or just improvising. It has reignited the same joy and curiosity I felt in high school and university—the feeling I originally fell in love with. I’m deeply grateful for the experience my career provided, but I’ve never been more musically satisfied than I am right now.

When I observe working classical musicians today, it often feels like their playing is just that: work. That might sound obvious, and I know many of them genuinely love the lifestyle and the thrill of constant performance. But even when given the freedom to choose their own programs, those opportunities are frequently treated as strategic moves to climb the career ladder. They are fully immersed in the ecosystem, driven by its levers of motivation and their own carefully cultivated identities within that system. While participating in that world isn’t inherently a bad thing, I can confidently say I am much happier playing entirely outside of it, free from its musical expectations and identity parameters.