BIOGRAPHY
Based in Chicago, Illinois, and a native of Orlando, Florida, Ashley Eason is an accomplished operatic mezzo-soprano with a diverse vocal training spanning a wide range of genres, including opera, chanson, oratorio, lieder, art song, and world music.
With extensive experience as both a performer and educator, Ms. Eason brings a rich, multifaceted approach to her career, excelling in solo and ensemble performance, as well as music instruction.
As a classically trained vocalist, Ms. Eason is an active soloist and ensemble singer. She is a proud member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chorus, where she performs under the direction of Chorus Master Donald Palumbo, Music Director Emeritus Riccardo Muti, and Music Director Klaus Mäkelä. Since 2017, Ms. Eason has performed for eight seasons with this Grammy-winning institution, participating in key performances such as Un Ballo in Maschera (Verdi), Verdi Requiem, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Her past seasons also include notable performances in Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni), which was recorded as a full-length digital album available on major streaming platforms, Aida(Verdi), Stabat Mater (Rossini), and more. Ms. Eason has also graced the stage for several seasons at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois, where the Chicago Symphony Orchestra holds its summer residency. In 2023, Ms. Eason performed Bernstein Kaddish at Ravinia with Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus under the baton of renowned conductor Marin Alsop, which was filmed, recorded, and presented on BBC’s Great Performances.
Beyond her performance career, Ms. Eason is a dedicated voice educator and arts administrator, offering individual and group lessons through her private studio and nonprofit organizations in both Central Florida and Chicago. As an artistic administrator, she currently serves as the Program Operations Manager for Musica nelle Marche, a summer festival program in Italy, and is a member of the board of directors for the nonprofit.
Ms. Eason earned her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance with distinction from DePaul University in Chicago, studying under the tutelage of Julia Faulkner, internationally acclaimed soprano and Director of Vocal Studies at the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center. Throughout her career, Ms. Eason has participated in several prestigious masterclasses, including a masterclass with Nicole Cabell, 2005 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World. Her recital work spans an eclectic range of repertoire, showcasing pieces in oratorio, chanson, lieder, and world music.
Her operatic repertoire includes roles such as Dido in Dido and Aeneas (Chicago), Speranza in L’Orfeo(Chicago), La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi (Urbino, Italy), and Charlotte in Werther (Chicago), among others. As a Zwischenfach singer, Ms. Eason has also explored and performed soprano operatic roles.
An esteemed concert artist, Ms. Eason has performed in numerous concerts with the DePaul Baroque Chamber Ensemble, DePaul Symphonic Choir, and a variety of other music organizations across the Midwest and Southeastern U.S. In 2017, she was named an Angeli Scholar at the Musica Nelle Marche Opera Program in Urbino, Italy, where she studied voice, performed Italian opera, and pursued Italian language studies at Università degli Studi di Urbino.
During her graduate studies, Ms. Eason supported musicologist Dr. Cathy Elias in transcribing recently discovered Italian Renaissance manuscripts, which were presented at the 2017 Renaissance Society of America Conference in Chicago and later at the Medieval and Renaissance Music Conference in Prague, Czech Republic.
Prior to her advanced studies at DePaul University, Ms. Eason completed a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Music with a concentration in Business Administration at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. During her time at Stetson, she studied under the mentorship of award-winning mezzo-soprano Jane Christeson and internationally acclaimed dramatic soprano Susan Neves. As a member of the Stetson University Concert Choir, Ms. Eason performed at Alice Tully Hall (Lincoln Center, New York) and toured extensively along the East Coast and Southeastern U.S. She was also featured as a mezzo-soloist in Handel's Messiah with the Stetson University Choir and Orchestra.
Ms. Eason’s teaching philosophy is rooted in the principles of her mentors, focusing on helping students develop their natural voice through individualized techniques that foster organic growth and refinement. She strives to empower each student to discover and cultivate their own authentic sound.