Grace Ashby is a soprano originally from Hebron, Maryland. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Music degree at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia, studying in the studio of Dr. Fotina Naumenko. She appeared in the fairy chorus for Shenandoah Conservatory’s production of Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in April 2023. Ashby also had the honor of portraying Marilyn Monroe in Shenandoah Conservatory’s multidisciplinary collaboration, Caged Birds in November 2023 which featured music from modern composers including Missy Mazzoli and Santa Ratniece. Ashby has been involved in numerous choral ensembles since Fall 2022 including Conservatory Choir and had the honor of being the soprano soloist in Amy Beach's Canticle of the Sun, performed with Shenandoah Conservatory’s Symphony Orchestra and Conservatory Choir in April 2024. During June 2024, Ashby had the pleasure of participating in SongFest’s 2024 Art Song Festival as a studio artist at Pomona College in Claremont, California. In October 2024, Ashby had the opportunity to perform Handel’s Acis and Galatea as Galatea’s cover and chorus in Porto, Portugal, and Salamanca, Spain, in collaboration with Shenandoah Conservatory’s Symphony Orchestra and Conservatory Choir. Ashby received first place at the Virginia NATS competition in the musical theatre and classical categories in February 2025 and was a finalist in Shenandoah Conservatory’s Student Soloists Competition, performing Strauss’ Brentano Lieder, op. 68 in March 2025. Most recently, Ashby performed in a reimagined production of Verdi’s Falstaff as Nannetta's cover in April 2025. Most recently, Ashby will be performing as Gretel in Shenandoah Conservatory’s upcoming production of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel in April 2026.