Biography
Photo by Bruce Bennett for the Palm Beach Opera
About the Artist
A musical life
Ashlyn was born in Palm Springs, CA on a hot Autumnal day. Growing up in a musical family, singing has always been a part of her life.
Ashlyn Brown is a lyric-mezzo soprano who recently made her role debut of Dorabella in Così fan tutte as a Fleming Artist at the Aspen Music Festival. There, she also sang as the alto soloist in Handel’s “Messiah” there. Earlier this year, Ashlyn debuted the roles of Stéphano (Roméo et Juliette) and Flora Bevoix (La Traviata) as is covered the role of Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro) as a Laufer Young Artist with the Palm Beach Opera. Prior engagements include the Santa Fe Opera (Apprentice Singer), Palm Beach Opera (Apprentice Artist), and the Sarasota Opera (Apprentice Artist). In 2024, Ashlyn made her mainstage and professional debut as the Zweite Adlige Weise (Der Rosenkavalier) and Woman 2/ The Event Planner (The Righteous) with the Santa Fe Opera. Additional roles include Ottavia (L'incoronazione di Poppea), Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), Hansel (Hansel and Gretel), Amastre (Xerxes), Berta (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), and Aloès (L’Étoile) at the Indiana University Opera Theater. Upcoming projects include singing Halyna in the workshop of The Mothers of Kherson with the Metropolitan Opera as well as the alto soloist in Vivaldi's "Gloria" with the New Choral Society.
Ashlyn is currently a semi-finalist in the Butler International Opera Competition. Her additional awards and competitions from the 2024-2025 season include the miOpera International Vocal Competition (finalist), the Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition (Florida District Winner), Houston Grand Opera Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers (semi-finalist), and the Kyrenia Opera Cyprus Vocal Competition (honorable mention). Competitions and awards from 2023-2024 season include the Palm Springs Opera Guild Vocal Competition (runner-up), Pasadena Vocal Competition (semi-finalist), and the Annapolis Vocal Competition (Jessica's Voice Encouragement Award), Donald and Luke Grahm Memorial Award (Santa Fe Opera). In 2023, she was a finalist in the D’Angelo Young Vocal Competition and was also a semi-finalist in many competitions including the SAS Performing Arts Vocal Competition, Pasadena Vocal Competition, and the Opera Index Vocal Competition.
In 2022, Ashlyn performed in many competitions such as the Palm Springs Opera Guild Vocal Competition (runner-up), Camerata Bardi International Vocal Competition (semi-finalist), Brava! Opera & James M. Collier Vocal Competition (finalist), Piccola Opera NH Opera Idol Competition (finalist). Ashlyn has also done oratorio work as the alto soloist in Mozart’s "Requiem" (Carmel Symphony, 2019 | The Church of Bethesda-By-The Sea, 2023) and the Soloist in Manuel de Falla's "Three-Cornered Hat: Complete Ballet" (Atlantic Classical Orchestra, 2024).