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Ashley Leigh
Ashley R. Leigh served as Assistant Principal/Second and Eb Clarinet with the
Naples Philharmonic (Naples, FL) from 2005-2022. She has performed with the
National Orchestral Institute, the Round Top Festival Institute, Musica Riva Festival,
(Italy) and the Tanglewood Festival.
Ashley was awarded the grand prize at the 2006 Buffet-Crampon Young Artists Clarinet
Competition in New York. Additionally, she has been a finalist for the Cleveland
Orchestra as well as the Principal clarinet positions with both the Chicago Symphony
Orchestra and the Nashville Symphony.
Ashley holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas,
Texas, where she studied with Paul Garner. She spent a semester abroad in Paris,
France, where she had the opportunity to study with her favorite clarinetist, Alessandro
Carbonare. She has also completed additional graduate studies at the University of
Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Richard Hawley.
Ashley serves on her worship team at Calvary Chapel Naples, and is also a Christian
songwriter and producer. Under the artist name “Ashley Ruth,” (Ruth is her middle
name) she plans to release her first full length album later this year. Her first single
“Leaning” currently has nearly half a million streams on Spotify. She is grateful for this
artistic outlet, and looks forward to whatever the Lord desires to do in this area of her
ministry.
Ashley’s husband, Dr. Jeff Leigh, is a violinist and composer. He has a heart for
evangelism and currently serves as a pastor at their church, Calvary Chapel Naples.
Together, they have three young children.
Ashley’s professional career was redirected this past year when she filed for a religious
exemption from the vaccine mandate, and was instead let go from her position of nearly
seventeen years. Although the grieving process has been painful, the Lord’s promise
that He will work all things together for good for those who love God has been a
constant comfort. God is near to his broken hearted, and day by day, God has shown
himself faithful to provide for all of their needs. Ashley is thankful for the sweet
blessing of being invited as a Masterworks artist and faculty member this summer.
