Jenni Asher is a cantor, educator, musician, and community builder whose work is rooted in the belief that music is not something we consume—it is something we create together. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to helping people find connection through Jewish music, prayer, and shared experience, creating spaces where individuals of all ages and backgrounds can feel seen, heard, and spiritually at home.
Originally trained as a violinist, Jenni's musical journey eventually led her to the cantorate, where she discovered a calling that brought together her love of music, teaching, pastoral care, and Jewish tradition. A multi-instrumentalist, she performs on violin, viola, cello, piano, voice, and erhu, drawing inspiration from classical, contemporary Jewish, folk, jazz, soul, and improvised music. Her classical foundation began at the age of four and led to studies at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music before continuing at the Royal Academy of Music in London and later earning a master's degree from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Those years cultivated not only technical excellence but also a lifelong passion for collaboration, improvisation, and finding new ways for music to tell human stories.
As an educator, Jenni brings more than twenty years of experience as a violin teacher, helping students of all ages develop not only technical proficiency but also confidence, discipline, creativity, and a lifelong love of music. Her teaching philosophy extends far beyond mastering an instrument; she believes music has the power to cultivate resilience, empathy, curiosity, and self-expression. Having worked with beginning students through advanced musicians, she is passionate about meeting each learner where they are and tailoring her approach to their unique strengths, goals, and learning styles. She has also developed string programs for Jewish day schools, helping young musicians experience the joy of ensemble playing and musical community. Beyond the classroom, Jenni became a Myofascial Release therapist and founded Musician Bodywork, a company dedicated to helping teach artists how to keep their bodies healthy, with hands on work and ongoing consultation.
A central theme of Cantor Asher's work is the importance of spiritual practice. She often teaches that what we practice becomes who we are. Rituals such as Shabbat, prayer, singing, and gathering together provide stability during life's inevitable challenges. She sees Shabbat as a weekly invitation to step away from productivity and remember that human worth is not measured solely by accomplishment. In an increasingly busy and disconnected world, she believes sacred time offers an opportunity to reconnect—with ourselves, with one another, and with God.
Cantor Asher is especially passionate about creating vibrant Jewish experiences for younger generations and for those who may not see themselves reflected in traditional synagogue life. She believes meaningful Jewish community should be welcoming, emotionally authentic, musically engaging, and accessible to people regardless of their background or level of observance. She hopes that everyone who walks through the synagogue doors finds a place where they are not merely welcomed but truly belong.
Throughout both her personal and professional life, Cantor Asher has been guided by a commitment to authenticity, emotional depth, and lifelong growth. She believes meaningful leadership requires vulnerability as much as expertise, and that the most powerful moments in Jewish life often emerge not from polished performances but from genuine connection.
Cantor Asher also has a diverse career as a performer and recording artist. She has collaborated with orchestras, chamber ensembles, choirs, and improvising musicians in both the United States and the United Kingdom, performing at the Royal Albert Hall, St Paul's Cathedral, and the Disney Concert Hall. Whether performing classical repertoire, contemporary works, or freely improvised music, she is happiest creating alongside other artists, believing that collaboration reveals more magic than when working alone.