Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Conway.
Hi Ashley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I started as an instrumentalist, playing the clarinet and bass clarinet. Until one day, my music teacher had me sing a solo. It was Whitney Houston’s “The Greatest Love of All”. Little did I know, I could do more than just carry a tune. At Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts (www.patapscohs.bcps.org), I studied jazz, classical, chamber, gospel, barbershop, show choir, and musical theater. At Morgan State University (www.morgan.edu), I studied Vocal Performance and Sociology. While at Morgan, I traveled with the Morgan State University Choir and performed as part of the Morganettes Dance team ensemble. While in college, I also performed in various roles at Toby’s Dinner Theatre (www.tobysdinnertheatre.com), ArtsCentric (www.artscentric.org), a theater company established, led, and performed by Black artists, giving them opportunities in the theatre world, and WOB (www.wayoffbroadway.com), another great dinner theatre.
I am currently a voice, piano, and mini music maker instructor at Stages Music Arts (www.stagesmusicarts.com) and
I am a proud member of HALO Incorporated (http://www.haloquartet.org),
Off the stage, I’m a Wife, Soccer Mom, owner of Ashley Denay Music Entertainment, Lead Vocalist of Ashley Denay Band, and co-owner of JAC Videography with my husband.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Being a solo entrepreneur comes with many hats and responsibilities. Along with being a wife and mom, I have a very busy schedule and there is always a task that needs to be completed. It can be complicated being the performer, social media manager, and booking manager. Being an entrepreneur and creative is not an easy task. Many late nights while working a 9 to 5 and owning a business is serious work!
As a wife and mother, the journey of entrepreneurship is no easy task! I wear many hats in the background while I sing on the front line— social media, booking, ensemble management. It’s serious work! And Although I may have challenges at times. I am forever grateful for the support of my family. If I have a show, my husband is usually behind the camera, and when my husband and I are working on a project together. My Mom will keep our daughter for private events, and for public events or festivals, my friends & family will come out to support as well. I am a firm believer that it takes a village. I can’t thank my family and circle of friends enough for their encouragement and support. It’s been a joyous and rewarding experience performing with my bandmates in Ashley Denay Band and teaching students the fundamentals of music, and enhancing their performance skills. I am enjoying sharing my gifts & creativity and loving the journey.
As you know, we’re big fans of Ashley Denay Music Entertainment. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My vision for Ashley Denay Music Entertainment is to serve as your one-stop shop to bring your event to life. Music for any occasion from a dance party to a sacred event, makeup, catering connections, and our awesome in-house video services through JAC Videography. Because who wants to have 5 different businesses to keep up with when you want to be present to savor the occasion you’re hosting? My professional network of artists of all kinds makes this possible and we look forward to bringing out the best in many moments to come for clients everywhere.
Not only do we provide live music entertainment, but we also offer private voice lessons and music workshops. Teaching students from Louisiana to Florida to Maryland, ages 8 to 70, how to enhance their vocal and performance skills. One of the greatest joys is teaching children and teens, watching them develop and figure out their musical craft or niche, and helping them find their voice, style, and creativity, to learn to read music, and to build their confidence for auditions and performances so that they aren’t just singing. They’re expressing their truth and connecting with whoever’s listening.
At Ashley Denay Music Entertainment the musical possibilities are endless. Book our musicians today for your Wedding, Corporate Event, Special Occasion, or Holiday Party. Our bands Ashley Denay and Greg Thompkins Olde Skool Band are versatile musicians performing genres from Jazz, Blues, Pop, Funk, Motown, Rock, Barbershop & Broadway. Serving Maryland, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, Virginia, Atlanta, New York, and Delaware. All of our packages provide sound equipment/production, stage and dance floor lighting, and DJ Service. Our additional services include MC Service, Photo Booth Service, and Videography through our affiliate vendor, JAC Videography.
Contact us today for your next event. www.AshleyDenay.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.AshleyDenay.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/AshleyDenayMusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKH1RqyXI2ue65zSl9vhVkQ
Image Credits
JAC Videography
Christian Nwosu
Jazzy Studios
Joe Morgan
