Barbara Bogatin has been a cellist with the San Francisco Symphony since 1994. Prior to that, she was Principal Cellist with the New Jersey and Milwaukee Symphonies and a long-time substitute with the New York Philharmonic. In addition to her career as a symphonic musician, she created a curriculum on Mindfulness Meditation for Musicians, where she integrates contemplative practice with music performance and instrumental practice. She has presented these seminars at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, University of Southern California, Indiana University, Juilliard School, and the One-Heart Institute Summer Program.

Along with her husband, neuroscientist Clifford Saron, she has given workshops, including The Buddha, the Brain, and Bach, which explores the intersection of meditation, creativity, and neuroplasticity, at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Esalen Institute, Stanford University, Telluride Compassion Festival, Omega Institute, and at conferences in Italy, Spain, Austria, and South Africa.

Barbara has performed chamber music at the Lucerne Festival, Spoleto Festival, Casals Festival, Classical Tahoe, Music at Kohl Mansion, and Davies Hall Chamber Music Series. She has published articles on music in The San Francisco Chronicle, Strings Magazine, SF Classical Voice, and Senza Sordino. She holds a bachelor’s and master's of music degrees from the Juilliard School.


For a glimpse into music and meditation: