Ashley Oakley was introduced to the world of music at a very young age by her mother, pianist Jean Oakley. Oakley started to play piano at 6, but it wasn’t love at first sight.
“She hated it,” Jean said.
Since she was little, Oakley was always surrounded by music. Jean said she would always take Oakley to music school with her. That is where Oakley would practice piano. Oakley said she never felt like she made the choice to become a musician; she felt like it was a natural path for her.
“I was just following my natural course through life,” Oakley said.
With other passions and interests in mind, Oakley always found herself going back to music because it always held her steady.
Paul Barnes, Oakley's piano teacher, is also a nationally known pianist. He said Oakley was one of his most talented students.
When performing, Oakley said her goal is to always act as a vessel through which the music and ideas of the composer can be expressed.
"We are not computers and when performing songs that can sometimes be hundreds of years old, the personal expression one gives to the song is inevitable," Oakley said.
Oakley expanded on this by explaining her performances are not about herself.
“Music is not about me, it is about the music and expression of ideas,” Oakley said.
Oakley said her inspiration comes from her husband who is also a musician and a teacher. She said he always challenges her and inspires her every day. She said her husband taught her by example to play for personal pleasure, which was life changing for her.
“Before, practicing really felt like a chore, and now it is part of my day that I looked forward to the most," she said.
Oakley had the opportunity to play alongside world-renowned composer Philip Glass at ASU Gammage in February.
"Playing alongside Philip was a life-changing experience," she said. “I was incredibly honored to be asked to play in his concert."
Oakley said Glass was extremely generous to her and she enjoyed their conversation about Etude No.14. She said he was very open to her thoughts and curious about her interpretation of his works.
Oakley also said she feels that she has times in her life when her inspiration is on hold, but she knows that has to happen for her next big break occurs.
Oakley said she never feels like her music is final.
"I still have a million goals to accomplish," she said. “Through accomplishing each goal, I discover my next.”
Oakley said she likes to constantly be in a state of desire and discovery.
She said she encourages people to follow their dreams and to never give up, no matter how hard it gets.
"If people want something, they have to keep working at it," she said. “Following your dreams is never to give up, no matter how hard or how many times you fall.”
Reach the reporter at atapiz@asu.edu.
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