MUSIC & PERFORMANCES
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Ashley Orlando’s voice immediately evokes a more glamorous era.
Whether she’s backed by a big band, trio or quartet—or her trademark ukulele—Ashley's tight phrasing and pitch-perfect melodies transport audiences to a time when the standards flowed live into homes from the big-city studios and grand hotels. Her haunting renditions of jazz and popular classics do honor to the originals and bring a fresh perspective to the great American songbook. "I've had the honor of performing with Ashley dozens of times. Each time she enters the stage she raises the energy level of the entire performance. Ashley elevates the level of sophistication to a group of musicians with the addition of her artful contribution. Her talent, musicianship, range and control of her instrument (voice), and her preparedness all come together at once to give her audiences goosebumps. She's a real pro." |
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MAJOR PERFORMANCES: Ashley performs regularly in a variety of configurations from solo/duo formats (with talented jazz pianists, guitarists and ukulele) up to 6/7-piece and even big bands. In June 2023, Ashley headlined "Summer Swing: The Great American Songbook & Beyond" at the Manship Theater's Hartley/Vey Studio in Baton Rouge, LA, with world-renowned musicians including Emmy winning pianist, composer and arranger Mike Esnault, Steve Martin Banjo Prize winner Don Vappie, and LSU assistant jazz professor Doug Stone. In February 2021 she was one of 5 female ukulele artists featured on the renowned virtual "Moonlight Mele" concert series airing from the Hawaii Theater in Honolulu. In May 2020 Ashley was a featured among an international line-up of ukulele musicians, (including the world-renowned James Hill and a surprise performance by Jake Shimabukuro) during Craig Chee and Sarah Maisel's Not-So-Mini Online Ukulele Festival #2.
During a 5-year stint in Houston, TX, Ashley was the lead singer of Vintage Point, a vintage variety band that played jazz, blues, Texas swing, French chanson and classic country songs with an international twist. After returning to Louisiana in June 2022, Ashley now regularly performs with some of the best jazz musicians throughout Southeast Louisiana (New Orleans, the Northshore, Baton Rouge) and Acadiana (Breaux Bridge and Lafayette). NONPROFIT/CHARITY: In May 2023, Ashley performed a solo "Give NOLA Day" French jazz concert for Nous Foundation in the French Quarter to help the organization raise $10,000+ for French programming-related activities in Louisiana. From 2018-2022 as a co-leader of Houkulele, Houston's Ukulele Club, which boasts 800+ members throughout Houston, Ashley hosted meet-ups and directed Houkulele's community performance group. In 2019 she led Houkulele in a partnership with Texas Children's Hospital to organize the "100 Ukuleles for 100 Kids Benefit Concert" at Anderson Fair Listening Room. This concert raised $11,000+ for the Ukulele Kids Club, which partners with music therapy programs to give the gift of music to hospitalized kids. WORKSHOPS: Ashley loves helping others achieve their own musical goals & hosts online workshops on a variety of topics (ex. performance skills, virtual collaborations, harmony and scatting). She was an ukulele teaching artist for the 2020, 2021 & 2022 Gaithersburg UkeFests as well as the Ukulele Kids Club Academy. LITURGICAL MINISTRY: Ashley has served for 15+ years as a requested cantor for weddings, funerals and churches in Louisiana and Texas. "Ashley has a warm, relaxed style that disarms everyone in the house! As a composer, when I write for voice, I hear Ashley's." "We hired Ashley to sing at our Valentine's Day Dinner and she was absolutely amazing! Her voice is mesmerizing. She was very engaging with the audience, and we all felt the love after her performance. Can't wait to have her back!" "Ashley's [Disney ukulele] class helped me up my game, got me thinking more creatively, and jump-started me into using uke more often. I played [one of the workshop songs] during our Interdisciplinary Group meeting and got some great feedback. Thanks so much for sharing your ukulele tips!" 
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WHAT AUDIENCES ARE SAYING...
"What an incredible evening ["Summer Swing with Ashley Orlando" at the Manship Theater's Hartley/Vey Studio] was. Your vocals, the playlist, your stage presence, and those incredibly talented musicians made for a world-class performance right here in our city. So well done, Ashley!"
- Mike Prejean, concert attendee
- Mike Prejean, concert attendee
"Ashley Orlando is a breath of fresh air and a rising star of jazz vocalists. With a crystal clear soprano voice and impeccable intonation, she swings hard. She has a bright, cheery presentation and somehow made the ukulele a hip jazz accompaniment instrument. Her song selections of jazz standards and other familiar songs lifted her audience, leaving us all much better for experiecing and loving her performance."
- John Autin, New Orleans jazz pianist and Rabadash Studios owner
- John Autin, New Orleans jazz pianist and Rabadash Studios owner
"Ashley performed at our Dad’s Cajun themed 80th birthday party last weekend and her beautiful music, including songs sang in French really made our party the most special event. We loved hearing about her adventures in France. She is such an accomplished and beautiful person inside and out and we can’t wait to have her perform at our next event!"
- Michelle Hurst, private party host
- Michelle Hurst, private party host
"The kids haven't attempted to play this ukulele in years. Thanks to Ashley for the inspiration! We loved hearing her perform at Dosey Doe and it was a pleasure meeting her after the concert!"
- Emily R. - Houston, TX
- Emily R. - Houston, TX
“Ashley is a thill to work with! Our organization, the Nous Foundation, organized a concert with her recently in which all our guests were blown away by the quality of her performance. She has a vast repertoire of music from which she sings and is a great ukulele player. I highly recommend anyone to work with her for your next event!
- Scott Tilden, Nous Foundation - New Orleans, LA
- Scott Tilden, Nous Foundation - New Orleans, LA
“Ashley Orlando shared her heart with us as she sang, offering an intimate glimpse of the depths of her range. Her voice seemed to float as smoothly as the wind through an oak tree’s moss. Visual art is music for the eyes, yet Ashley Orlando’s music is art for the soul. What a delightful listening experience!”
- Kim Zabbia, Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center - Ponchatoula, LA
- Kim Zabbia, Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center - Ponchatoula, LA
"We had the pleasure of having Ashley Orlando provide music for our Galentine's Day event at our shop, Bramble & Bee! She was absolutely lovely to work with! Her music and vocal style is heart-warming and unique and the perfect backdrop for a casual event. We highly recommend her and give her 10/10 without a doubt! We definitely plan on using her for our future events!"
- Skye McLain - Tomball, TX
- Skye McLain - Tomball, TX
"Ashley, along with her jazz guitar accompanist, Brian Breen, hit the perfect notes for the 2023 Annual Dinner & Meeting of the Friends of French Studies at LSU last week. Her voice, sometimes warm and rich while at other times playful and saucy, displayed a mastery of the intonations, rhythms, and language of the iconic French chanson style that was exactly the vibe we wanted for this event. Brava and merci, Ashley!
- Sandra Hubbard, President - Friends of French Studies at LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
- Sandra Hubbard, President - Friends of French Studies at LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
"[Ashley's] angelic voice and selection of jazz and easy listening music put everyone at ease and encouraged the group's involvement. She has a beautiful voice and a beautiful spirit that is warm, delightful, and entertaining. We would love to have Ashley return to entertain us again."
- Teri Rossi, The Woodlands, TX
- Teri Rossi, The Woodlands, TX
“We were so pleased to have Ashley sing at Katie and Derek’s wedding. Her voice is warm and clear, and very beautiful. Her gifts brought still more beauty and reverence to an already perfect evening.”
- Yvonne Fletcher, Baton Rouge, LA
- Yvonne Fletcher, Baton Rouge, LA
“My husband and I have been listening to Ashley sing at our church for several years, so when it came time to choose a cantor for our wedding, it was no contest. When I hear her sing I am reminded that angels are all around us; her voice is honest, strong and pure. She flows effortlessly from note to note and leaves nothing to be desired.”
- Rebecca Shelden, Baton Rouge, LA
- Rebecca Shelden, Baton Rouge, LA
“We had Ashley perform for our Annual Deacons Banquet last night. She did a fantastic job. She was delightful and engaged our congregation with her unique music style. We look forward to having her for future events.”
- Larkin Harris, First Baptist Church – Baton Rouge
- Larkin Harris, First Baptist Church – Baton Rouge
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