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The Book!
A Taste of the Intangible
About Zen
CRESCENDO
Blog
Listen
Connect
English
The Book!
A Taste of the Intangible
About Zen
CRESCENDO
Blog
Listen
Connect
English
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I Met a Tree Today
zen zeng 1/8/25 zen zeng 1/8/25

I Met a Tree Today

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My Grandma Would have been 115 Years Old This Year.
zen zeng 1/7/25 zen zeng 1/7/25

My Grandma Would have been 115 Years Old This Year.

Image: via SCMP

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Zen is a concert pianist with a global footprint, known for her emotionally resonant performances and artistic versatility. With a career spanning from solo recitals to international festivals across four continents, she has built a life steeped in the discipline, depth, and expressive power of music. Praised for her “brilliant” and “groundbreaking” interpretations, Zen brings emotional insight, technical mastery, and a cultural sensitivity to the stage.

Rooted in this deep artistic practice and high-performance psychology, Zen created Crescendo—a transformative practice that blends live music, storytelling and performance psychology into immersive, thought-provoking, quietly powerful and transformative experiences. Crescendo helps people turn their crossroads into clarity, harmony and possibilities — elevating work, life and spirit.

This biography may not be altered, modified, or reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the artist.

I have an opinion. 🙅‍♀️ And it begins at a men's football game. Picture this: A sea of supporters, chips in hand, hearts on sleeves. Amongst the roar of the crowd, one voice cut through, not for its pitch, but for its persistence. A woman, ma
I have an opinion. 🙅‍♀️ And it begins at a men's football game. Picture this: A sea of supporters, chips in hand, hearts on sleeves. Amongst the roar of the crowd, one voice cut through, not for its pitch, but for its persistence. A woman, maybe in her 60s, was fiercely loyal to her team. Passionate. Invested. And… deeply frustrated. Every time a player missed a mark or hesitated, she’d shout: “Come on! MAN UP!” It wasn’t meant to be cruel. It was what she’d always yelled. A phrase from another time, echoing through generations of sports culture. But then I paused. Man up? What does that even mean? Be braver? Be rougher? Be… unshakable? Be the winner? Would we ever shout “woman UP”? 💪 Would it mean rise, lead, roar? Or would it mean harden? And what about “woman DOWN”? 😁 Does it reduce us to our roles? Softer, smaller, silent? Or could it mean something more radical? Rest, reconnect, feel? I couldn’t judge the woman yelling. She, too, was shaped by the voices of her time. Maybe “man up” once helped her survive in a world that didn’t make space for softness. We talk a lot about evolving culture. But this mega public space still chants the same slogans from decades ago. If we want boys who can feel and lead, Girls who can rise and rest, Maybe it’s time we rethink what strength sounds like. and decide how we frame our narratives. What would you shout from the sidelines, especially when the stakes are high? #LanguageMatters #PerformancePsychology #EmotionalLiteracy #Leadership #CultureShift #CrescendoWithZen
I met a tree today. Not in a forest. Not on a hike. Just… at a brand-new playground. My children were running ahead, and I was chasing a moment of quiet. Then I felt it…I looked up… and there it was! A towering tree, magnifice
I met a tree today. Not in a forest. Not on a hike. Just… at a brand-new playground. My children were running ahead, and I was chasing a moment of quiet. Then I felt it…I looked up… and there it was! A towering tree, magnificent and ancient, like a giant fennel stretching into the sky. Its limbs reached outward like open arms. Some had been cut back — pruned, reshaped, reduced, to make room for the playground, perhaps. And yet… It stood Self-Assured. Grounded. Quietly Powerful. It wasn’t trying to be majestic. It just was. Still reaching. Still growing. Still seeking light — humbly, patiently, lovingly, without fanfare. And I paused. And my heart… turned, clenched, and fell to the floor. Struck by the immense greatness in front of me. Not loud. Not lofty. But undeniable. I thought about how often we see cuts, setbacks, or pruning as Loss. But maybe they’re also space-makers, Invitations. Not the end of vitality, but its Redirection. And I wondered: Is this what Nature has been trying to show us all along? Not just how to grow, But how to respond to reduction. How to absorb vitality from what’s still around us. How to reach for light with what's left, not with despair, but with deep instinct. Maybe real strength is never about Becoming, Maybe it’s about Being. This — is what Crescendo really means. In music, it’s not an explosion. It’s a gradual swell — in volume, in intensity, in presence. An unfolding. A journey. The art of rising slowly, with what we are given, and what remains. Where in your life have you mistaken pruning for decline? What would it look like to grow quietly, and still rise? #RootedGrowth #QuietPower #ReflectionsInNature #SlowWisdom #LifeInTransition #StillRising #crescendowithzen
I am in a relationship. 💜🥣💜 Clay doesn’t lie. It reflects who you are, not just what you are trying to create. When I sit at the wheel, I’m not just shaping a bowl. I’m in relationship. With the clay. With the moment. With myse
I am in a relationship. 💜🥣💜 Clay doesn’t lie. It reflects who you are, not just what you are trying to create. When I sit at the wheel, I’m not just shaping a bowl. I’m in relationship. With the clay. With the moment. With myself. And here is what I’ve come to accept: If I’m tense, the clay resists. If I rush, it collapses. If I grip too tightly, it pushes back. But when I soften, breathe, and stay present: the clay responds. Something beautiful begins to take shape. Not because I controlled it, but because I partnered with it. That’s the quiet truth of the creative process…🌻 and of life.🌻 You’re not just shaping your work, your relationships, your future, You’re being shaped, too. By the state you bring to each moment. So here’s a practice I come back to again and again, maybe it’s one you’d like to try: Before you begin something meaningful today: a conversation, a project, a challenge, your home time after work, ask yourself: “What energy am I bringing into this moment?” Presence? Pressure? Fear? Flow? Then pause. Notice. Adjust. Because when you shift your state, you shift what you shape. I’d love to know: What part of your life is asking for a different kind of presence right now? We have the choice to shape something meaningful, always, from the inside out. #mindfulleadership #innerwork #creativepractice #potterywisdom #crescendo #embodiedliving #growthfromtheinsideout
What Disney princesses say about modern women (and the girls we once were)? I was sitting in the audience, watching the next generation watch Disney, eyes wide, faces glowing with wonder. And something in me paused. It sent me deep into reflection. I grew up with Disney princesses. Maybe you did too. At first, they taught us to be sweet, silent, and wait to be chosen. Think Snow White or Cinderella, gentle, obedient, dreaming of “someday.” Then came Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, girls with fire in their eyes and dreams beyond the castle. But still, the story often ended with a kiss. Now we see Moana, Elsa, Raya. They lead. They question. They fall apart and rebuild. Their quests aren’t for love, they’re for identity, purpose, and voice. What does that say about our societal evolution? Does Disney mirror or pre-empt? We’ve moved from wanting to be saved 🌗to wanting to belong 🌗to wanting to lead 🌗to wanting to be whole. We no longer crave perfection. We want real. So I’ve been wondering: What stories are we curating now? For our daughters. For each other. For the girl still inside us. Who was your favourite princess growing up? And who speaks to you now? #crescendowithzen #modernwomen #modernprincesses
Life is a...
🌻 Girls just wanna have...F.U.N... 🌻 Freedom: to be and become. Unmasking: to shed the expected and show what’s real. Narrative: to shape and speak one’s seasons of life. I’m delighted and deeply honoured to share that I’ll be presenting at the 2025 Christchurch Educating Girls Symposium, hosted by the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools. My session is titled: The Unheard Curriculum: What Music and Multilingualism Reveal About Girls’ Inner Lives — and What Educators Can Do About Them. This is more than a topic for me, it’s a calling. As someone who lives between languages, cultures, and concert stages, Music and Multilingualism have always been the mediums through which I’ve made sense of the world. They are how I listen, how I speak, and how I serve. Through my work as a pianist, educator, interpreter, and researcher, I’ve seen how girls often communicate their most important truths not through what’s said, but through what’s felt, expressed, or left unsaid. What if we paid closer attention to tone, silence, code-switching, rhythm? What if we honoured the rich inner lives girls carry (often quietly) into classrooms? This symposium, part of the Global Action Research Collaborative on Girls’ Education, brings together educators and thought-leaders from around the world. I’m honoured to contribute to this shared mission of deeper listening and attuned leadership. I’d love to know: When have music or language helped you access something that couldn’t be spoken directly? Please share your experience with F.U.N in the comments below ⬇️ 🌻 Freedom to 🌻 Unmask your 🌻 Narratives. #TheUnheardCurriculum #CrescendoWithZen #EducatingGirls #GirlsEducation #MultilingualismMatters #MusicAsLanguage #LeadershipWithHeart #FreedomUnmaskingNarrative #ICGS2025
Standing ovation...!! 🌻 🌻 👏 👏 A concert, and more. A meeting of worlds. A weaving of stories. Last night, I had the privilege of witnessing a group of extraordinary women from across cultures, each playing her cultural instrument, each bringin
Standing ovation...!! 🌻 🌻 👏 👏 A concert, and more. A meeting of worlds. A weaving of stories. Last night, I had the privilege of witnessing a group of extraordinary women from across cultures, each playing her cultural instrument, each bringing the depth of her lineage, artistry, and listening. Together, they created something beyond genre. Beyond geography. It was spacious. Alive. Full of grace and grit. 'Resonant Hearts' is the vision of my dear WAAPA friend Nela Trifkovic, whose quiet strength, compassion, and artistic foresight left me in awe.. She imagined this… and then made it real. Quiet. Powerful. Leadership. To witness these women share their voice, their rhythm, their pain and hope together, reminded me why I believe in the power of music not just to perform, but to transform. I left reminded of what music can do: when it’s not trying to impress, but to connect. To hold grief, joy, memory, and hope, all at once. With deep gratitude to the artists. Imagine if our world, may it be a company, a school or a family (and even politics?) chose to be inclusive, collaborative, and brave enough to hold complexity and beauty in the same breath... Surrealism? Dare to dream. Especially with the divine company of Frances Goh, rounding out the evening with exquisite fusion food in Melbourne. So Melbourne. So Surreal. #ResonantHeart #WomenInMusic #ListeningAcrossCultures #SoundAndSoul #MusicalLeadership #WithGratitude #CrescendowithZen
Growing by 80%? Leaders who have a prescence? their company grow by 80%. Iza's post made me pause. What if that same presence could grow our lives, our communities, our humanity? We lead not just in boardrooms. The most important leadership begin
Growing by 80%? Leaders who have a prescence? their company grow by 80%. Iza's post made me pause. What if that same presence could grow our lives, our communities, our humanity? We lead not just in boardrooms. The most important leadership begins every morning when we show up. It is about how we show up, when it’s uncomfortable. When it’s quiet. When values are tested. When it would be easier to disappear. To lead is to live your values out LOUD.💥 That’s how trust groooows.🌻 That’s how we groooooooow.🌻 #Leadership #Presence #ValuesInAction #Community #HumanityFirst
Pressure, pressure pressure... The 'show' must go on... But HOW? When the pressure peaks, what carries a performer through isn’t just talent, it’s trust. Trust in their preparation. Trust in their skills. Trust in the people beside them
Pressure, pressure pressure... The 'show' must go on... But HOW? When the pressure peaks, what carries a performer through isn’t just talent, it’s trust. Trust in their preparation. Trust in their skills. Trust in the people beside them. And just as importantly, trust in the environment that holds them. When that trust is solid, pressure becomes a condition, not a threat. It sharpens focus, deepens presence, and allows the performer to ride the unknown with poise and agility. The stage may have spotlights, but the pressure, vulnerability, and need for trust are the same — in music, in leadership, and in life. In any high-pressure workplace or community, our ability to perform, connect, and grow depends on how safe we feel to bring our full selves — and how deeply we trust what we’ve built within and around us. #TrustUnderPressure #PerformanceWithPresence #CrescendoWithZen #InnerRhythm #WorkplaceWellbeing #MusicAsMetaphor
How do you perform under pressure? I often reflect on the striking image of Julie Bishop took the opportunity to confront Vladimir Putin for the downing of MH17 over Ukraine at the G20 Summit in 2014. No raised voice. No dramatic gestures. Just ca
How do you perform under pressure? I often reflect on the striking image of Julie Bishop took the opportunity to confront Vladimir Putin for the downing of MH17 over Ukraine at the G20 Summit in 2014. No raised voice. No dramatic gestures. Just calm, focused presence—and a smile. She didn’t need to shout to be heard. She didn’t need to dominate to lead. That smile wasn’t softness. It was strategy. It was composure. It was a masterclass in performance under pressure. Because true performance—on stage, in diplomacy, or in life—isn’t about being loud. It’s about being anchored, aligned, and attuned. Like in music, when the spotlight hits and the stakes rise, we don’t guess our way through. We trust the inner rhythm we’ve rehearsed—our values, our mindset, our clarity. Did I also mention Julia seized the opportunity to march up to Putin and stare him down when his security guards were elsewhere for ten minutes? She was on a mission. Julie’s stance reminds us: -Be clear about your values. -Be decisive. -Be authentic. -Focus on the task at hand—with grace, not noise. When pressure finds you, do you rise up? sink? or explode? Can you speak with strength and a smile? Can you action with poise and grace? #CrescendoWithZen #ArtOfPerformance #LeadershipUnderPressure #HighPerformers #JulieBishop #InnerRhythm #QuietStrength #HighPerformance #PresenceOverPerfection #CourageInAction
H-A-L-T! We once learned to stay 1.5 metres apart. It kept us safe. It helped us care. But perhaps now, it’s time to relearn something new: Closeness. Courage. Connection. Our children are growing up in a world shaped by distance — no
H-A-L-T! We once learned to stay 1.5 metres apart. It kept us safe. It helped us care. But perhaps now, it’s time to relearn something new: Closeness. Courage. Connection. Our children are growing up in a world shaped by distance — not just physical, but emotional. What a gift it would be to show them something different. To model what it means to truly be there: for ourselves, and for one another. This Men’s Health Week, I have been thinking: Presence is an investment, Stillness is courage and wisdom, And time — our most precious commodity: is an offer of love. What would it look like to give a little of our time to simply sit beside someone — to listen without agenda, to pause long enough for the real story to surface, to become whatever is needed for the symphony of someone else’s harmony? Because when men flourish, so does the world around them. Their presence strengthens families. Their wholeness nourishes communities. Their wellbeing lifts future generations. 🪕🍵A quiet renaissance begins not with noise — but with noticing. With showing up. With choosing to come closer. This week — and always: Let’s lead with presence. Let’s guide with kindness. Let’s meet one another not just halfway, but at where they are. #MensHealthWeek #QuietRenaissance #MenFlourishing #CultureOfCare #HeartToHeart #TimeIsSacred #RealConnection #WholeMenWholeWorld #CrescendoOfCare #LeadWithPresence
💥Uncoded perfection. 🎹🌻 At the mega Ringwood Eisteddfod, I had the honour of adjudicating nearly 50 emerging performers. Each brought more just note and technique, they brought presence, feeling, story. In a world increasingly shaped by AI, thi
💥Uncoded perfection. 🎹🌻 At the mega Ringwood Eisteddfod, I had the honour of adjudicating nearly 50 emerging performers. Each brought more just note and technique, they brought presence, feeling, story. In a world increasingly shaped by AI, this matters. Because expression, vulnerability, and interpretation can’t be coded. Music is one of our oldest languages—felt before it’s understood, shared before it’s perfected. To witness young artists step onto a stage and offer something real, vulnerable and beautiful? That’s not just performance. That’s humanity in motion. 🎶Growth is not a download—it’s earned. 🎶Expression is not synthetic—it’s lived. 🎶And connection? Still our greatest instrument. Is AI taking over your job? Time to be creative! 😁🌻 #ringwoodeisteddfod #humantouch #beyondAI #musiciansjourney #growthmindset #crescendo
What is true mentorship? It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about asking the right question—at the right moment. It’s not about fixing. It’s about witnessing, guiding, and knowing when to step back. As a perfo
What is true mentorship? It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about asking the right question—at the right moment. It’s not about fixing. It’s about witnessing, guiding, and knowing when to step back. As a performer and educator, I’ve learned: 🌻You don’t teach by flooding someone with knowledge. 🌻You teach by tuning in—deeply—to what they already carry. Performance psychology reminds us that under pressure, what matters most isn’t perfection. It’s presence. It’s pacing. It’s helping someone find their rhythm, not forcing yours. Mentorship isn’t about shaping a student into your image. It’s about offering them space to become more themselves. And that requires a quiet kind of courage. 🌻So when I mentor, I ask: “What’s the one note they need to lead to right now?” Because mastery isn’t built in a day. But one aligned step at a time. 🌻 Who has mentored you by being present, not just impressive? #MentorshipMatters #MasterclassMoments #PerformancePsychology #LeadByListening #MusicAndMentoring #DeepTeaching #ClarityUnderPressure #MusicianEducator
🎤✨ The heart of every performance isn’t the presenter—it’s the receiver. Music truly comes alive in the listening, the feeling, the shared space between performer and audience. It’s the same in business, service, and every
🎤✨ The heart of every performance isn’t the presenter—it’s the receiver. Music truly comes alive in the listening, the feeling, the shared space between performer and audience. It’s the same in business, service, and every human interaction: True impact happens when we focus on the people we serve, their experience, and how we co-create meaning together. Because it’s never just about us— It’s about the history we carry, the humanity we connect with, and the legacy our work and expertise become part of. No matter the stage or context, the true power lies in the relationships we build and the deeper story we join. #CrescendoWithZen #AudienceFirst #CollectiveWisdom #PurposeDrivenLeadership #InnerRhythmOuterImpact #MusicAsMetaphor
The old-school idea that Sports is all about muscles and Arts is all about heart? Ill-informed and outdated. Both demand discipline, vulnerability, strategy, and soul. Whether we’re chasing a ball under stadium lights or shaping silence into
The old-school idea that Sports is all about muscles and Arts is all about heart? Ill-informed and outdated. Both demand discipline, vulnerability, strategy, and soul. Whether we’re chasing a ball under stadium lights or shaping silence into sound on a concert stage — we’re navigating pressure, emotion, and performance. Sport and art aren't opposites. We are mirrors. We add colours to communities and spirit to humanity. 🌻🎨💜👩‍🎓 We challenge people to stretch beyond limits, to play with purpose, to move others — and ourselves. Maybe it’s time we stopped separating the two, and started learning from both. #AFL #ArtsAndSport #PerformanceWithPurpose #MuscleAndHeart #BeyondLimits #FlowState #MindBodySoul #CrescendowithZen
Still thinking about this… I had the absolute joy of attending a workshop with the incredible @Benjamin Northey, and he had so much wisdom packed into his words. One line in particular struck me: “When conductors lead for everything, t
Still thinking about this… I had the absolute joy of attending a workshop with the incredible @Benjamin Northey, and he had so much wisdom packed into his words. One line in particular struck me: “When conductors lead for everything, they are so clear—but they also stop the ensemble from listening to each other.” It got me thinking—how often do we do this in life? In teams, families, relationships… even with ourselves? Ben beautifully drew the connection between music, leadership, and humanity. He spoke about how true leadership isn’t about being the loudest or most in control—it’s about creating space for others to step in, to listen, to respond. That’s when the magic happens. As a musician and educator, this resonates deeply with me. I’ve always believed that music teaches us about life—how to hold space, how to collaborate, how to grow. Whether you’re on stage, at work, or navigating life’s chaos, the best leaders are the ones who know when to step back and let others shine. It was such a refreshing, thought-provoking experience—and I’m curious… Have you ever experienced leadership like this? Or moments where less control actually created more connection? Would love to hear your thoughts. #LeadershipLessons #MusicAsMetaphor #GrowthThroughArt #CrescendoWithZen #LifeReflections #HumanityAndHarmony
A little reminder to start your (and my) day. 💜 #motivationquotes #CrescendoWithZen #takeaction #imposter
A little reminder to start your (and my) day. 💜 #motivationquotes #CrescendoWithZen #takeaction #imposter
I have an opinion. 🙅‍♀️ And it begins at a men's football game. Picture this: A sea of supporters, chips in hand, hearts on sleeves. Amongst the roar of the crowd, one voice cut through, not for its pitch, but for its persistence. A woman, ma I met a tree today. Not in a forest. Not on a hike. Just… at a brand-new playground. My children were running ahead, and I was chasing a moment of quiet. Then I felt it…I looked up… and there it was! A towering tree, magnifice I am in a relationship. 💜🥣💜 Clay doesn’t lie. It reflects who you are, not just what you are trying to create. When I sit at the wheel, I’m not just shaping a bowl. I’m in relationship. With the clay. With the moment. With myse
What Disney princesses say about modern women (and the girls we once were)? I was sitting in the audience, watching the next generation watch Disney, eyes wide, faces glowing with wonder. And something in me paused. It sent me deep into reflection.
Life is a...
🌻 Girls just wanna have...F.U.N... 🌻 Freedom: to be and become. Unmasking: to shed the expected and show what’s real. Narrative: to shape and speak one’s seasons of life. I’m delighted and deeply honoured to share that I&rsquo
Standing ovation...!! 🌻 🌻 👏 👏 A concert, and more. A meeting of worlds. A weaving of stories. Last night, I had the privilege of witnessing a group of extraordinary women from across cultures, each playing her cultural instrument, each bringin Growing by 80%? Leaders who have a prescence? their company grow by 80%. Iza's post made me pause. What if that same presence could grow our lives, our communities, our humanity? We lead not just in boardrooms. The most important leadership begin Pressure, pressure pressure... The 'show' must go on... But HOW? When the pressure peaks, what carries a performer through isn’t just talent, it’s trust. Trust in their preparation. Trust in their skills. Trust in the people beside them How do you perform under pressure? I often reflect on the striking image of Julie Bishop took the opportunity to confront Vladimir Putin for the downing of MH17 over Ukraine at the G20 Summit in 2014. No raised voice. No dramatic gestures. Just ca H-A-L-T! We once learned to stay 1.5 metres apart. It kept us safe. It helped us care. But perhaps now, it’s time to relearn something new: Closeness. Courage. Connection. Our children are growing up in a world shaped by distance — no 💥Uncoded perfection. 🎹🌻 At the mega Ringwood Eisteddfod, I had the honour of adjudicating nearly 50 emerging performers. Each brought more just note and technique, they brought presence, feeling, story. In a world increasingly shaped by AI, thi What is true mentorship? It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about asking the right question—at the right moment. It’s not about fixing. It’s about witnessing, guiding, and knowing when to step back. As a perfo 🎤✨ The heart of every performance isn’t the presenter—it’s the receiver. Music truly comes alive in the listening, the feeling, the shared space between performer and audience. It’s the same in business, service, and every
The old-school idea that Sports is all about muscles and Arts is all about heart? Ill-informed and outdated. Both demand discipline, vulnerability, strategy, and soul. Whether we’re chasing a ball under stadium lights or shaping silence into Still thinking about this… I had the absolute joy of attending a workshop with the incredible @Benjamin Northey, and he had so much wisdom packed into his words. One line in particular struck me: “When conductors lead for everything, t A little reminder to start your (and my) day. 💜 #motivationquotes #CrescendoWithZen #takeaction #imposter
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