Hometown: Calgary, AB, Canada

Recognized as one of CBC Music’s “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30”, Ashley Tsai has been a soloist with prominent orchestras including the Jenaer Philharmonie, Casalmaggiore Festival Orchestra, Colburn Academy Virtuosi, and Calgary Civic Symphony. She is a recipient of awards such as the Borromeo String Quartet Guest Artist Award and Jack Kent Cooke Young Artists Award, and has been a prize winner at competitions including the Violons du Roy Concerto Competition, Kloster Schöntal International Violin Competition, Canadian Music Competition, and Rotary Calgary Concerto Competition. Ashley has also been awarded Provincial and National Gold Medals from the Royal Conservatory of Music. 

Ashley is currently a violinist of the Auréya Quartet in Boston, holding residencies with the quartet at the Virginia Arts Festival (Norfolk, CT) and l’Atelier Musical (New Baltimore, NY).  She has attended summer festivals including the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Taos School of Music, Yellow Barn Young Artists Program, and Casalmaggiore International Music Festival, and has also performed with members of the Brentano String Quartet, Borromeo String Quartet, and pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet.  

Originally from Calgary, Canada, Ashley is currently a Dean Scholar at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, under the tutelage of Miriam Fried, previously also with Paul Biss. She graduated from the Colburn Music Academy pre-college as a Kohl Scholar, studying with Henry Gronnier. Ashley currently performs on a 1765 Giuseppe Gagliano violin and a J. Jacques Millant bow graciously provided by CANIMEX INC. from Drummondville (Quebec), Canada.