Main content

How to focus

Conducting an orchestra and skiing off-piste are both activities that require absolute concentration. Kalena Bovell and Lorraine Huber share their tips on how to get ‘in the zone’

Have you ever been so absorbed in an activity that you lost track of time? Experiencing moments of intense focus is something most of us can relate to; but did you know you can train for it? Kim Chakanetsa discusses tips and best practice with two women whose careers demand their absolute concentration.

Lorraine Huber is a Freeride World Champion and a mental strength coach. Freeriding is a discipline that involves skiing off-piste and performing acrobatic jumps on natural terrains. For Lorraine, being able to shut-out the world around her and perform at her best is a matter of life or death.

Kalena Bovell is the assistant conductor of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and the only African-American/Hispanic orchestra conductor in the United States. When she is on the podium, she needs to be able to focus for hours, while working with a big group of musicians in front of a public. To excel in her job, she had to learn to master the art of intense focus.

Produced by Alice Gioia.

MUSIC DETAILS: Extract from Kalena Bovell’s international debut with Chineke! Orchestra. The performance was recorded at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall in London, UK.

IMAGE DETAILS
L: Lorraine Huber
R: Kalena Bovell [credit Cabrillo Festival]

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Sat 3 Apr 2021 01:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Mon 29 Mar 2021 03:32GMT
  • Mon 29 Mar 2021 10:32GMT
  • Mon 29 Mar 2021 21:32GMT
  • Mon 29 Mar 2021 22:32GMT
  • Sat 3 Apr 2021 01:32GMT

The best of The Conversation

Enlightening, inspiring, revealing: Some of our favourite Conversations so far

100 Women

Global experience on image, work, relationships, equality, migration and working lives

Podcast