Profile

Ashley Willits

Nashville,TN,USA
Young Artist/Emerging Pro
Classical, Musical Theatre, Pop, Soprano


Highlights & Awards

  • Honors Society Member - DMA - University of Mobile, Alabama (expected 2027)
  • Classical Singer Semifinalist (top 25) Classical & Musical Theatre - 2025
  • Carnegie Hall Debut Performance - March 2025
  • International Lyric Academy - Vicenza, Italy - July 2025 - 1st Lady (Magic Flute) & Alice (Falstaff)
  • Irene Dalis Opera Award - San Jose State University - Master of Music 2022
  • Music International Grand Prix - 2nd Place Adult Voice Popular 2022
  • Cal Western Regional Finalist - 1st Place Classical Voice 2022 and 2021
  • National Association of Teachers of Singing - 1st Place Advanced Classical 2021
  • Edwin Barlow Post Collegiate Award - San Francisco 2021
  • Cal Western Regional Finalist - 1st Place Classical & 2nd Place Musical Theatre 2021
  • Music International Grand Prix - Finalist Top 5 Adult Voice Classical and Popular 2020
  • MIGP 1st Place - San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Adult Voice Classical and Popular 2020
  • Copyright Work - "The Hummingbird and I" - Song from a song cycle for soprano voice

Bio

Ashley Willits’ voice has been described as poetic, sensual, thrilling, and incredibly versatile! “Her gift reaches deep into the heart and impacts the soul.” As a dramatic lyric soprano, her skills transcend into both opera and musical theatre. Her intuitive musical interpretations are in gratitude to the past 30 years as a classical pianist. From this foundation in piano stemmed performances as an opera and musical theatre singer, choir director, and choral arranger.

At the University of California, Santa Barbara she studied Opera and Communication. Furthering her education at Santa Clara University, she received her Masters in Education and a CA K-12 Music Credential. She received a Master of Music degree from San Jose State University in Vocal Performance. She is currently enrolled in a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree program in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy. She is expected to graduate in spring 2027.

California native, Ashley currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee as a choral director, opera singer, pianist and composer. Family and God are the most important elements of her life and serving others through music is her mission to make the world a more beautiful place.


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