Soprano Opera singer, Ashley Curling has perfected her operatic sound through education, experience and practice, becoming a professional opera singer.
Did you always know you wanted to be a professional opera singer?
I have always loved music, and loved to sing. I sang in many choirs as a child and I could nearly always be heard, no matter how many singers were in the choir or how softly I was singing.
Did you get a certain inspiration from a performer that you admired?
If I had to choose one, it would be American soprano Renee Fleming.
How did you learn to perfect your craft?
I studied at Indiana University where I was taught by esteemed Romanian soprano and teacher Virginia Zeani. Her passion for continuing the legacy of bel canto singing is something I hope to pass to students of my own someday.
How did your experience contribute to your ability to serve with the Roswell Arts Fund Board?
Opera is a culmination of many different art forms, so I understand how different types of art can work together to create unique, significant and memorable experiences.
What successes have you seen while serving?
The one that touched me the most was the Pop-In Performance series. In 2020, there was a time when assisted living and memory care residents were unable to receive visits from friends and family, due to the pandemic. RAF designed the pop-in series to bring artists in to perform outdoor concerts for these communities, so that residents could enjoy high quality performances from the safety of their windows or outdoor common spaces. It is always a privilege to witness art bringing communities together.
"I have had the privilege of bearing witness to the different ways that art can touch the human spirit and its unique capacity to move and heal the soul. I think that is what makes art special...it brings communities together by serving as a unifier. " -Ashley Curling