About Ashley!
Overview
Ashley Crawford is a violinist and Graduate Assistant at Florida International University, studying under Amernet Quartet violinist, Avi Nagin. In 2023, Ashley graduated from Shenandoah Conservatory where she was concertmaster, assistant concertmaster, and principal second in Shenandoah Conservatory’s Symphony Orchestra. She was also featured as a soloist in Shenandoah’s 2021 production of The Last Five Years.
Ashley has competed in various competitions, most notably winning first prize in the 2021 Charleston International Music Competition. She regularly participates in summer festivals, such as the Eastern Music Festival, and has had the privilege of performing in masterclasses for distinguished soloists such as Tchaikovsky Competition winner, Eric Silberger.
In addition to her passion for performing, Ashley is a violin instructor who has worked with a diverse range of students. She looks forward to a multi-faceted career where she can tell stories through performing, and pass her knowledge onto the next generation of musicians.
Orchestral Expertise
Ashley is an experienced orchestral musician who has traveled through North and South America. She has regularly held leadership roles, participated in multiple world premiers, and collaborated with world renowned soloists. Ashley likes to stay active year round through her university and summer studies, and her orchestral “life goal” is to play all 9 Mahler symphonies someday! She has recently been appointed Associate Concertmaster in the Miami Pixel Symphony Orchestra.
A Passion for Chamber Music
Chamber music is a high priority for Ashley and holds some of her favorite musical memories. Over the years, she has participated in ensembles with a broad range of instrumentation, personnel, and repertoire. She firmly believes each one has been a crucial part of her musical maturity and technical development.
Solo Endeavors
Between her sophomore and senior years at Shenandoah Conservatory, Ashley completed 6 solo recitals. This has given her the opportunity to perform works ranging from Solo Bach to her own arrangement of Piazzolla’s Vuelvo al Sur. Additional performance highlights include the Wieniawski Violin Concerto No. 2, Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto, Brahms Double Concerto, and Mozart Sinfonia Concertante.
Collaborations
Ashley regularly collaborates with her colleagues, whether that be accompanying classmates, working on recitals, or making a project come to life. She loves to support her fellow students in their ideas and ambitions, and is thankful for those who have supported hers along the way as well.
Off Stage and Outside the Practice Room
Apart from performing, Ashley is a private instructor and likes to arrange and compose chamber music. She is passionate about writing and intends to become an author, with many ideas already in the works. She is also training to become a Christian counselor, is the co-founder and co-leader of a new student ministry (REVIVE), and loves taking naps with a certain cuddly beagle!