Ashley Petrie is a conductor, composer, and singer-songwriter based in the greater Los Angeles area, originally from a small town in Northern California called Nevada City. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition from the University of California, Santa Barbara where she studied with Leslie Hogan, Jeremy Haladyna, Sarah Gibson, and Brandon J. Rolle. Currently she is pursuing a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Redlands, with conductor Co Boi Nguyen. In the past she has conducted many new works for a variety of chamber ensembles, and was also a primary conductor for the UC Santa Barbara Pops Orchestra for three years. Ashley hopes to help spread awareness for diversity and equality in classical music, and bring her passion for new music into her career as a conductor.
Ashley’s music is a refreshing step into nature, using experimental techniques to create immersive and suggestive musical experiences; it ranges from the relaxed and meditative music of her earlier works to the more inventive and chaotic works of her present, including works for a variety of instrumentations and ensembles. She is inspired by nature and often uses this inspiration to tell stories with her music. As a singer-songwriter, her music can be described as a mix between folk and pop, and is influenced by artists like The Weepies, Jack Johnson, and Noah Cyrus.