With a near-30 year career spanning performance, promotion, production and education, I have lived and experienced first-hand the countless wonders of music. It has been a privilege to devote my life to the furtherance of musical traditions which – for hundreds of years – have served as the soundtrack to humanity, and I remain constantly amazed by the power of music to bring joy, healing, hope and redemption to our societies.
But a life in music is not always easy, and there are many barriers to a fulfilling career. Amidst precious highs come painful lows; moments when we struggle, suffer and stress. We worry for the future of classical music – our future – in a society that increasingly marginalises the arts. And we can traverse entire careers unsure about the inner workings of our industry, burdened with debilitating insecurities and feeling lonely in our efforts to tackle them. The statistics are stark; recent studies found that over 70% of musicians report anxiety and stress-related illness, while 82% feel that the music industry does not offer enough support for their wellbeing. It’s time for that to change.
The idea for Zenezen began to take shape in early 2023, at which time I was serving as Director of Music at the Yehudi Menuhin School. It was an idea that quickly became an obsession, and I handed in my notice at YMS later that year, fully intending to throw myself head-first into what seemed like an impossibly exciting new chapter. But unexpected twists and turns at YMS in November 2023 put things on hold; there was a sudden change in the school’s leadership, the Board pleaded with me to stay, and my loyalty to the pupils – for whom I cared deeply – led to me reversing my decision. Zenezen was parked.
It didn’t remain parked for long, however. As the months rolled by, I became more convinced than ever that Zenezen was my calling. Put simply, it was a dream that wouldn’t – or couldn’t – die. In the summer of 2024 I once again informed YMS of my intention to leave, and despite further attempts by the school to change my mind, I held firm. So, here we are – three years (and two resignations!) after the initial spark of inspiration, Zenezen is finally born. It is unquestionably the proudest moment of my career.
I’m a big believer in the adage that life is best lived when you surround yourself with people who are better than you. And I’m incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by friends and colleagues who possess skills and knowledge that are completely alien to me, all of whom share my belief that Zenezen is not just a good idea but a necessity. Without their inspiration and support, Zenezen would have forever remained a distant dream, so it is only appropriate that I take this opportunity to thank each and every person who has helped along the way. Whether you’re part of the core Zenezen team, a founding partner, or someone who has simply offered passing advice, your wisdom has played a hugely important role in our evolution.
And what an evolution it has been so far! The Zenezen of today is markedly different from the original vision, and our long-term ambitions extend far beyond a monthly newsletter and a few developmental courses. However, we have opted to start out small so that we can grow organically; in this way, we are able to retain full control over the content that we create and the services we provide. We know that our product won’t be perfect from the off, and I predict that I’ll one day look back on these early Zenezen offerings in much the same way that I listen to my old recordings (on the rare occasion that I pluck up the courage to do so!); that is, with a mixture of curiosity, pride, and a fair share of mild embarrassment. Therefore, we ask for your patience as we refine and get better at what we do. Your feedback will be vital for our growth; we are here to speak to you and for you, and your voice is of paramount importance. Stay with us and you can rest assured that we will always listen.
Perhaps predictably, edition one of the Zenezen newsletter has been designated as a platform for us to explain what we’re all about. With that in mind, I feature far more heavily than I will in future releases (phew!), which will focus primarily on guest contributors. Without giving any secrets away, I can tell you that we’ve already amassed a rich library of inspirational videos and articles from some of classical music’s most brilliant minds, and we look forward to sharing them with you in the coming months. The list is diverse, but there is one common denominator; that all of our content has been created to support the wellbeing of our fellow musicians around the world.
Togetherness and community are at the heart of the Zenezen mission, and we aim to foster a sense of citizenship and belonging amongst the musicians who engage with our services. An important aspect of this will be the creation and development of a safe-space in which you feel able to share your experiences for the good of one another. I truly believe the time is right; we live in an age when people are (quite rightly) asking profound questions about the world of music and their role in it, and the appetite for change is strong. If all works well, those who benefit from Zenezen’s support now will one day share their learnings and provide help to future generations, ensuring that our movement lives on. Together, we have the opportunity to change the face of the music industry – forever.
The music world is broad and diverse, and no two careers are ever quite the same. But regardless of the individual paths that we follow, we are all united by the challenges that we face. As an ambassador for the musical heritage that I hold dear, I am eternally aware of my personal responsibility to support my peers, and everything that I have learned from my years as an active musician will eventually feed into Zenezen. Furthermore, I know that the same is true of my colleagues, with their rich array of experience and expertise, who are equally committed to the cause. Together, we will champion a culture of transparency and kinship, where musicians of all backgrounds feel empowered to share, united in the desire to help one another.
With all of that said, I truly hope that each and every person who reads this newsletter will find something helpful that they can take away. It’s time to make music together.
Ashley Wass
co-Founder and Artistic Director
