Acclaimed by the New York Classical Review as “a vision of sunshine and joy”, possessing a “lovely lyric soprano”, Ashley Fabian is quickly garnering recognition for her artistry in both comedic and dramatic roles. She is celebrated for her “voice of immense warmth and scintillating spin” (parterre box), and her command of the stage has been praised by critics and audiences across the nation.
Ms. Fabian looks forward to many debuts in the 2024/25 season, including singing Despina in Cosi fan tutte with Virginia Opera and Carmina Burana with the Tucson Symphony. She began the 2023/2024 season with a return to the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl in a concert with Chris Thile (Punch Brothers, Nickel Creek), then appeared as Gilda in Rigoletto with Holy City Arts & Lyric Opera, Zerlina in Don Giovanni with San Diego Opera, Chan Parker in Charlie Parker’s Yardbird with Indianapolis Opera, performances as the Soprano Soloist in Messiah with the Winston-Salem Symphony, and Carmina Burana with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Glacier Symphony, and Bozeman Symphony. She also sang the role of Marzelline in Beethoven’s Fidelio in a workshop with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in their collaboration with Deaf West Theater. The season concluded with an American premiere of Porpora’s Polifemo with Opera Neo as Galatea.
The 2022/2023 included covering the title role in the new Simon Stone production of Lucia di Lammermoor at Los Angeles Opera, conducted by Lina González-Granados. She joined the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and the Utah Symphony as the Soprano Soloist in Carmina Burana, where Utah Arts Review noted her “utterly sublime rendition” and “gorgeous crystalline tone”. She then sang Pamina in Die Zauberflöte with Pacific Opera Project, appeared as a Soprano Soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Traveler’s Prayer by Steve Reich under the baton of Brad Lubman, made her debut at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium as Phyllis in Iolanthe with MasterVoices, and returned to Opera Neo as Bellezza in Händel’s Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno led by Jory Vinikour.
Previous seasons have featured her in roles such as Cinderella in Into the Woods, Ginevra in Ariodante, Johanna in Sweeney Todd, Adina in L’elisir d’amore, Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel, Ilia in Idomeneo, Younger Alyce in Glory Denied, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor, Madame Silberklang in The Impresario, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Bastienne in Bastien und Bastienne, The Princess in Transformations, and Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief. Her excellent musicianship also enables her to sing contemporary music with ease and she has recorded the roles of Sister Sparrow in Bre’r Rabbit and the Tar Baby by Nkeiru Okoye and Carman Moore, and Venus in The Golden Ass by Tiffany Skidmore. In concert Ms. Fabian has appeared as the Soprano Soloist for Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem with the Erie Philharmonic and has also been a soloist in Händel’s Dixit Dominus and Messiah, Fauré’s Requiem, Charpentier’s Te Deum, Vivaldi’s Gloria, and a fully staged production of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. Ms. Fabian has been engaged with other companies including Seattle Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Central City Opera, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and Virginia Arts Festival.
Ms. Fabian was a three-time Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, and has been the recipient of awards from the Orpheus Vocal Competition, the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition, Central City Opera, and the Grand Concours Franco-American Competition. In addition, she was a finalist in the Tenor Viñas Competition, Mildred Miller Competition, Cooper-Bing Competition, and Piccola Opera Competition. She holds a M.M. from The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and a B.A. and Artist Diploma from The College of Charleston.
In addition to her work as a soprano, Ms. Fabian works as an actor based in Los Angeles. She has appeared in various projects including several films, most recently featured on the Lifetime Movie Network. An avid game show enthusiast, she has appeared as an undefeated contestant on Wheel of Fortune and Game Show Network’s Chain Reaction.