Ashlei Peoples

Ashlei Peoples is a classically trained and versatile pianist who began playing the piano at the age of 7.  During her childhood, she frequently played the piano for her home church, Praise Team at her school, and music festivals in which she received superior ratings and reviews.  Ashlei graduated from Spelman College in May 2016 where she earned her Bachelors of Arts degree in Music-Piano Performance, cum laude. 

While she was in college, she was the Student Accompanist of the Spelman College Glee Club, the Student Director and Pianist of the Spelman College Jazz Ensemble, Pianist/Organist for Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and Martin Luther King's Historical Site, Ebenezer Baptist Church.

During her time at Spelman College, Ashlei was annually awarded the Joyce F. Johnson Scholarship, Alberta King Memorial Music Scholarship, and the Congressional Black Caucus Performing Arts Scholarship.  She served as the opening act for the Kenyatta Jazz Festival at Spelman College and for Jean Carne, Michael Henderson, and the Dramatics Valentine's Day Concert.  Recently, Ashlei was the featured pianist for the NAACP's Freedom Fund Banquet and the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. Women's History Month Programs.  She has also been the featured pianist at several churches in the northern Virginia area as well as the Delta Sigma Theta's Martin Luther King Oratorical Contest at Hylton Chapel.

Currently, Ashlei is the Music Teacher at Jennie Dean Elementary School in Manassas, VA where she was awarded the "First Year Teacher of the Year" and "Second Year Teacher of the Year" award.  She is also an accompanist for the Washington Women's Chorale and the Intune Music Studios for premier music students in the Northern Virginia area.  Ashlei also serves as the Traditional Music Director at the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Woodbridge, VA.  She released her album "Hymns from my Heart" as a solo piano album that featured her jazz and gospel arrangements of her favorite hymns.  Recently, she also released her first Christmas album "Our Savior is Born" in which she collaborated with DMV artists on jazz and gospel arrangements. 

To purchase, go to www.ashleiskeys.com