Dr. Ashley Salinas, Viola coach intermediate 

A Texas native, ​Dr. Ashley Salinas recently completed her DMA in viola performance through the University of North Texas (2018). She earned MM from UNT (2011) and BM from Sam Houston State University (2009) and her primary teachers include Susan Dubois, Cynthia Roberts, Paul Leenhouts, and Lisa Burrell. While living in North Texas, she performed frequently with regional symphony and theater orchestras. In addition to modern viola engagements, she also participated regularly with various Baroque ensembles including Dallas Bach Society, Denton Bach Society Players, La Novella Baroque, La Follia (Austin), and the Orchestra of New Spain.  Through her Baroque experience, Dr. Salinas has participated in the Victoria Bach Festival, Boston Early Music Festival, Cervantino Festival of Mexico, and Siglo d’Oro Festival in El Paso, Texas. Dr. Salinas currently performs with Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra in Long Beach/Los Angeles. 

In addition to large ensemble performing, Dr. Salinas has also participated in various summer chamber music festivals including Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music, Marian Anderson String Quartet’s Chamber Music Institute, and Performing Arts Institute of Wyoming Seminary.  During her undergraduate studies, her string quartet was selected to perform a concert tour in China and Mexico and she also featured as a soloist with the SHSU Chamber Orchestra and Intersection Contemporary Music Ensemble in 2008. Pursuing chamber music as both a violist and violinist has not only allowed her the opportunity to travel abroad (China 2007, Mexico 2008 and 2012), but has also greatly enhanced research interests in the availability of standard and non-standard literature in our digital world.
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Dr. Salinas’s teaching philosophy highlights identifying each student’s individual needs for successful short- and long-term goal planning, exposure to classical and non-classical genres, and understanding the physical and emotional elements involved with learning music in a holistic manner. Her experience as a performer has trained Dr. Salinas to ensure the highest quality instruction for each student. Although her degrees have focused on performance, she have maintained a strong commitment to current and historical research, as well as string instrument pedagogy. Her dissertation pertains to the non-compositional reasons (i.e. race, gender, religious affiliation, etc.) which have resulted in the omission of lesser-known composers within standard string repertoire.