Soprano, Ashley Townsley, is a Houston, TX native. She is celebrated for her “lovely tone” and ability to bring an “audible sense of occasion” to the music she performs (Voix des Arts). In 2012, Ashley made a significant debut with the Houston Grand Opera, giving the world the premiere of Jake Heggie’s Pieces of 9/11: Memories from Houston. Since then, she has performed as Amor in Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, Madame Goldentrill in The Impresario, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Stella in Previn's A Streetcar named Desire, Despina in Così fan tutte, La Fée in Massenet's Cendrillon, Despina in John Davies’ The Three Little Pigs, and Second Lady in Moscow, Cheryomushki. Ashley has also debuted on the musical theatre stage as Johanna (Sweeney Todd), Hattie (Kiss Me Kate), Waitress (Rock of Ages), Irene (Footloose), Kate (Legally Blonde), and Mrs. Nordstrom (A Little Night Music).

As a concert soloist, Ashley has appeared in Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, collaborating with ensembles such as the UNT Symphony Orchestra, the Louisiana Choral Foundation, and the Lake Charles Messiah Chorus. Internationally, she toured the Czech Republic as the soprano soloist with early music ensemble Fantasmi, debuting Daniel Milcžinsky’s Oratorium on Czech National Radio.

This season, Ashley returns to The Dallas Opera stage, taking on the role of Despina in The Three Little Pigs and The Rose in their main stage production of The Little Prince. On the concert stage, Ashley returns to perform with the professional choral group, Orpheus Chamber Singers. Recent highlights include her feature in the Every Note Belongs sensory-friendly concert, sponsored by The Dallas Opera and The Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas.