Meet Ana Diaz Asencio

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ana Diaz Asencio a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ana, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I grew up in a small town in Sevilla, Spain, where wind ensembles play a big part in cultural activities. That’s where I first heard the sound of a saxophone playing folkloric Spanish music. I was mesmerized by the beauty and sweetness of the timber, and from that day on, my dream was to become a saxophone player. After joining my town’s the music school and, years later, the Conservatory “Cristóbal de Morales” in Sevilla, I realized that even though I had five more hours of music lessons every evening, what I looked forward to most each week was going there and playing music with my friends. That’s when I realized that music was something bigger than a hobby for me, and that I wanted to spend my whole life doing it.

Being a musician has not always been easy. It requires dedication, determination, and saying no to a lot of plans that, when you’re twelve, sound far more fun than going to music school in your free time. Moreover, turning your hobby and passion into your full-time job can make it difficult to find other things you feel passionate about, since it’s easy to fall into spending all your time (both work and free time) doing the same thing.

I always say being a musician is not only a career but a lifestyle you choose. I fell in love with this art when eight years old and I have never seen myself doing anything else.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am a classical saxophone player. I am currently completing my Doctorate of Musical Arts in Saxophone Performance at Boston University and I am going to start working at UMass Boston next January as their new Applied Associate Saxophone Teacher.

In my everyday work (apart from being a full-time student), I try to develop different skills that can help me navigate the music world more successfully. As a saxophone player, I always try to program pieces that are both appealing and new to the audience at the same time. I make sure there is a little bit of my culture in these programs, as well as a new collaborations with living composers. One of my goals as a performer is to promote my instrument, share my culture, and connect with people through classical and contemporary music.

In addition to this, I also love conducting and the management side of the music world. I am currently involved in a new project that performs pieces that have been arranged from the solo or chamber repertoire into an orchestral setting. In this organization, I serve as both the assistant conductor and a member of the board and administrative staff. I believe that, as artists, we need to be as prepared and well-rounded as possible, since art is not just one discipline but a whole interconnected field.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I think, for me, these three qualities are determination, discipline, and being curious and open to connection.

I’ll start with the last one: the music world is all about connections. My teachers always say that you can be the best musician, but what matters even more is being a good person. After all, who wants to make music next to someone who is rude?

Moreover, I have always been curious. That’s exactly what made me cross the Atlantic Ocean to pursue my dreams. Not being afraid of the unexpected, seeking new connections, meeting new people to work with, staying until the end of a concert, or sending an email to express gratitude and support for other colleagues are some of the most important things you can do in your career.

On the other hand, every dream and goal requires discipline and determination. Nothing happens magically in life (except the lottery and even then, you still have to go and buy a lottery ticket). For every good result you achieve in your career, you planted a seed long before. Sometimes the path doesn’t feel easy, but I truly believe it often feels that way because we are making the right decisions. Hard work will always take us somewhere.

That’s why, for me, being disciplined goes hand in hand with being determined. Some days we feel completely confident in our success and goals, and other days we have to convince ourselves that we can still make it. It sounds cheesy, but I think that being successful starts with believing that you can be successful, and then working every day to achieve it.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents have ever done for me (apart from giving me life) is supporting me. I have always been very hardworking and ambitious, but I wouldn’t be here without their support. I come from a middle-class family in the south of Spain. We have never faced serious financial struggles, but we are also not rich. My parents simply work very hard every single day so they can support my professional goals.

They give me not only financial support (being an international student in the US is not easy) but also emotional support. My family is the most important thing in my life, and I am deeply connected to them. They taught me what hard work, determination, and love truly are, and I am always grateful to have them. They keep me going.

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