Safe Music Inc Co-Founders, Jemma Jones and Gwen Klassen, a dynamic daughter-mother team,
are committed to creating safer music learning and work spaces for children, students, teachers, and performers.
are committed to creating safer music learning and work spaces for children, students, teachers, and performers.
Jemma Jones she/her (M.Mus, Grad. Dip., B.Mus double bass performance, McGill University) has served as Assistant Principal Bass of Symphony Nova Scotia since 2022. She is an avid private double bass teacher, youth orchestra coach, and performer. In addition to the regular Symphony Nova Scotia season, Jemma has made chamber and solo recital appearances around Nova Scotia, and has performed in the bass sections of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.
From a young age, Jemma has been aware of the imbalances in the classical music world that impact musicians’ mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Jemma is committed to addressing these deeply-ingrained imbalances and the culture that permits them.
Jemma actively works towards positive change within her community near and far. She serves on the Symphony Nova Scotia Health and Safety Committee, Negotiating Committee, and Players’ Committee (chair), as well as the Mental Performance in the Arts Canada Webinar Committee and the Changing the Culture Working Group (in affiliation with Women for Musical Leadership). In December 2024, determined to make a lasting difference, Jemma co-founded the Safe Music Initiative (now Safe Music Inc) alongside her mother, Gwen Klassen. Jemma is a passionate advocate for the safety and well-being of musicians and, through her work, endeavours to empower a performing arts culture that is free of abuse, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.
From a young age, Jemma has been aware of the imbalances in the classical music world that impact musicians’ mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Jemma is committed to addressing these deeply-ingrained imbalances and the culture that permits them.
Jemma actively works towards positive change within her community near and far. She serves on the Symphony Nova Scotia Health and Safety Committee, Negotiating Committee, and Players’ Committee (chair), as well as the Mental Performance in the Arts Canada Webinar Committee and the Changing the Culture Working Group (in affiliation with Women for Musical Leadership). In December 2024, determined to make a lasting difference, Jemma co-founded the Safe Music Initiative (now Safe Music Inc) alongside her mother, Gwen Klassen. Jemma is a passionate advocate for the safety and well-being of musicians and, through her work, endeavours to empower a performing arts culture that is free of abuse, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.
Gwen Klassen she/her (M.Mus, flute performance, Northwestern University, Certified Life Coach, Reiki Master) has served as the Assistant Principal Flute/Piccolo with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra for over 30 years, and as Sessional Instructor of Flute at the University of Calgary for over 23 years. Gwen is the Founder and Director of Wellness and Leadership Inc (2022-present) and was the Founder and Director of the Pender Island Flute Retreat Inc with William Bennett and Lorna McGhee (2009-2021). All of the initiatives, committees, retreats, programmes, workshop series, and funding that Gwen has facilitated over the last 20 years have been in service of both music and the musician, as we cultivate a more inclusive culture.
At the Calgary Phil, Gwen was the founding chair of the Health and Wellness committee, working with the administration to present and find funding for musician, union, administration workshops on Leadership, Alexander Technique, and a Mindfulness series. The Health and Wellness team worked with the Director of Artist Operations, Jennifer MacDonald, to co-create a rehearsing and performing schedule that allowed for more work life balance, and injury prevention best practices.
Gwen was also a founding member of the Calgary Phil's Anti-Racist, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee comprised of 4 administrators, and 4 musicians (rotating chair), who met weekly during the year of lock down, and monthly when they returned to work. These collaborative efforts by both musicians and administration were not always easy, and effortless, yet they had a direct impact on the work culture. These meetings, books read, workshops, and courses taken to upgrade her knowledge about power, privilege, and prejudice inspired Gwen to create Wellness and Leadership Inc not-for-profit to provide scaffolding, structure, and support for those wishing to lead their life with a sense of safety, meaning, belonging, voice and choice. WLI was the NAAS sponsor for the Calgary Phil 2024.
At the University of Calgary, Gwen facilitated workshops for their music students through the Pender Island Flute Retreat Inc. These topics included Mental Skills, Mindfulness & Movement, How to practice, Qigong breathing, Laughter Yoga, Check in & Choose, Healthy Ego & Competition, Flow, Focus & Finances, and more. She also engaged specialists in Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique, and marketing to support students’ holistic development. Gwen has delivered these programs at music universities and conservatories across Canada and through online courses for the international music community.
Over 12 years as Founder and Director of the Pender Island Flute Retreat—while also working as a performer, teacher, and coach—Gwen came to recognize a deeply entrenched, international pattern of harm within classical music education, performance, and audition pipelines. Together with her daughter, and the National Working Group, she is now building a program that directly confronts the imbalance, trauma, and systemic inequities embedded in these structures, and works toward meaningful, lasting change.
At the Calgary Phil, Gwen was the founding chair of the Health and Wellness committee, working with the administration to present and find funding for musician, union, administration workshops on Leadership, Alexander Technique, and a Mindfulness series. The Health and Wellness team worked with the Director of Artist Operations, Jennifer MacDonald, to co-create a rehearsing and performing schedule that allowed for more work life balance, and injury prevention best practices.
Gwen was also a founding member of the Calgary Phil's Anti-Racist, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee comprised of 4 administrators, and 4 musicians (rotating chair), who met weekly during the year of lock down, and monthly when they returned to work. These collaborative efforts by both musicians and administration were not always easy, and effortless, yet they had a direct impact on the work culture. These meetings, books read, workshops, and courses taken to upgrade her knowledge about power, privilege, and prejudice inspired Gwen to create Wellness and Leadership Inc not-for-profit to provide scaffolding, structure, and support for those wishing to lead their life with a sense of safety, meaning, belonging, voice and choice. WLI was the NAAS sponsor for the Calgary Phil 2024.
At the University of Calgary, Gwen facilitated workshops for their music students through the Pender Island Flute Retreat Inc. These topics included Mental Skills, Mindfulness & Movement, How to practice, Qigong breathing, Laughter Yoga, Check in & Choose, Healthy Ego & Competition, Flow, Focus & Finances, and more. She also engaged specialists in Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique, and marketing to support students’ holistic development. Gwen has delivered these programs at music universities and conservatories across Canada and through online courses for the international music community.
Over 12 years as Founder and Director of the Pender Island Flute Retreat—while also working as a performer, teacher, and coach—Gwen came to recognize a deeply entrenched, international pattern of harm within classical music education, performance, and audition pipelines. Together with her daughter, and the National Working Group, she is now building a program that directly confronts the imbalance, trauma, and systemic inequities embedded in these structures, and works toward meaningful, lasting change.
