about

Ashley Faatoalia is a distinguished tenor whose commanding voice and refined artistry have established him as a compelling presence across opera, contemporary music, and screen. Praised for the beauty and expressive range of his instrument, he has been described as “outstanding” (Los Angeles Times), with a voice of “winning purity and variety of expression” (Opera News), and “sweet-toned” (San Francisco Chronicle). He is quickly emerging as a leading interpreter of contemporary and newly imagined works.​ Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Ashley’s lifelong dedication to music led him to Chapman University, where he studied under Dr. Peter Atherton. From these foundations, he has developed a career defined by versatility, collaboration, and a deep commitment to storytelling through music.

 

A sought-after collaborator in new and experimental repertoire, Ashley has worked closely with many of today’s most influential composers, including Anthony Davis, Jessie Montgomery, Lewis Pesacov, Rand Steiger, Christopher Cerrone, and Anne LeBaron. His work in this space has positioned him at the forefront of contemporary vocal performance.

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His recent engagements reflect both breadth and distinction, including Remus in the U.S. premiere of Treemonisha with Volcano; Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Oakland Symphony; Emperor Altoum in Turandot with Los Angeles Opera; Amadou in the West Coast premiere of Omar with Los Angeles Opera; Korey Wise in The Central Park Five with Long Beach Opera; and Simón in The Three Women of Jerusalem with Los Angeles Opera. Additional credits include Marco Polo in Invisible Cities (The Industry), Jesse in Crescent City (The Industry), The Crab Man in Porgy & Bess (San Francisco Opera), and Charles Edward in Candide (Los Angeles Philharmonic), among others. Notably, the PBS documentary of Invisible Cities received an Emmy Award while The Central Park Five was awarded the Pulitzer Prize.

 

Beyond the operatic stage, Ashley’s artistry extends into film and television, with recording credits including chorus for Avatar 2 & 3, ensemble for Palm Royale, and featured soloist work for Dicks: The Musical and Vanguard. He has also been featured in LA Opera’s digital short We Hold These Truths, in its After Hours series (Black Love Recital), and its Living Room Recitals series, demonstrating a continued engagement with evolving performance mediums. He has also performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” before sold-out audiences at both Dodger Stadium and Crypto.com Arena.

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Ashley is also an accomplished concert artist, having appeared with ensembles including the Oakland Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Bernardino Symphony and other leading institutions. He currently serves as a teaching artist with LA Opera Connects, and is featured on numerous professional recordings, including Dicks! The Musical, Invisible Cities, The Edge of Forever, and Porgy & Bess – San Francisco Opera (Blu-ray/DVD). Ashley is also a proud voting member of The Recording Academy® and holds membership in SAG-AFTRA and AGMA.