Rising Stars: Meet KSENIA VASILEVA of BROOKLYN

Today we’d like to introduce you to KSENIA VASILEVA.

Hi KSENIA, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My musical path started in Russia, in a small mountain town, where I began playing piano at six. By the time I was ten, I was already performing with the local symphony orchestra.

Later, I moved back to Saint Petersburg, where I was born. While earning my first degree in Public Relations, I picked up the bass. About four years after starting, I went on my first European tour, and my career really began to take off.

After that, I moved to Moscow, where I performed and served as a music director for some of the country’s most well-known artists. A few years later, I felt ready for the next step and applied to Berklee College of Music. I received a scholarship and moved to Boston.

After graduating, I relocated to New York, where I live now. I perform with incredible musicians and stay deeply immersed in the New York music scene.

So yes, there’s been a lot of moving in my life 🙂

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The hardest transition for me was moving to Boston. It was a new language, a new culture, and it was financially very challenging. I spoke some English when I arrived, but not enough to fully understand everything in lectures, so I was doing double the work – first translating the language, and then absorbing the material itself.

Even though I was surrounded by people, I often felt quite lonely. I moved as an adult with significant professional experience, while most of the students were much younger, which made it harder to connect and find a sense of community.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a bass player, music director, and sound designer. I’m deeply passionate about making people dance when I play bass. I’m drawn to music with groove, a fresh sound, and a deep message. As a music director, I focus on building a strong, intuitive connection with the artists I work with, offering a very personal and intentional approach to shaping both artist’s identity and their performance. As a sound designer, I’m especially passionate about music software, UX sound design, creating immersive soundscapes, and teaching these skills to my students.

I’m very proud of my path. The challenges I’ve had to overcome, the resilience I’ve built, and my ability to stay true to myself throughout the process. I began in classical music, moved through touring and directing major artists, and continue to work across education and tech-driven projects. I believe it’s this combination of honesty, passion, sensitivity, confidence, and my cultural identity that truly sets me apart.

How do you define success?
I see success as a balance between the major areas of life – career, creativity, health, family, and community. When all of these are in good shape, and there’s a sense of harmony with myself and the world around me, that’s what success truly means to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ksenia.io/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrs.esper/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ksenia.vasilyeva.3
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ksenia-vasileva/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KsuBass

Image Credits
Takamasa Ota
Lauriane Ogay