PROFILE
Ashley Au is a Winnipeg-based bassist, composer, sound designer, arranger, and queer creative. A multifaceted musician, Ashley specializes in the upright and electric basses—performing, touring and recording extensively. As a composer and sound artist, Ashley’s work can be found behind various theatre and dance productions as well as Winnipeg’s ephemeral pop-up stages. Ashley is the artistic director of Cluster New Music + Integrated Arts Festival and Artistic Producer for Pride Winnipeg.
EDUCATION
BRANDON UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MUSIC — B.MUS (JAZZ BASS PERFORMANCE) 2011
PRINCIPAL TEACHERS
Gilles Fournier, Double Bass (Jazz), Brandon University
Crystal Tait, Double Bass, Brandon University
Jesse Dietschi, Double Bass, Principal Bassist, Kindred Spirits Orchestra, Toronto, ON
RECORDED WORK (SELECTED)
2022 - STUFF WE ALL GET - Christine Fellows, Vivat Virtute
2019 - STUDIES IN GREY - SUPER DUTY TOUGH WORK, Independent - 2020 POLARIS PRIZE-NOMINATED
2018 - COMET - CARLY DOW, Independent
2017 - ORCHARD SEASON - SPRUCE & THE MEADOWLARK, Independent
2016 - WINTER WHEAT - JOHN K. SAMSON, ANTI (Epitaph) - 2017 POLARIS PRIZE-NOMINATED
2015 - WAVES EP - ODANAH, Independent
2015 - BEAUTIFUL THINGS - BRADY ENSLEN, Independent
2015 - INGRAINED - CARLY DOW, Independent
LIVE WORK (SELECTED)
2022 - THE GREAT ESCAPE - SUPER DUTY TOUGH WORK - BRIGHTON, UK
2022 - SOUND CITY FESTIVAL - SUPER DUTY TOUGH WORK - LIVERPOOL, UK
2019 - RISE UP MAIN STAGE - JOHN K. SAMSON - WINNIPEG, MB
2018 - GUATEMALA JAZZ FESTIVAL ANTIGUA MAINSTAGE - CHUCK COPANACE - ANTIGUA
2018 - GUATEMALA JAZZ FESTIVAL MAINSTAGE - CHUCK COPENACE - GUATEMALA CITY
2018 - CANADA’S DILLA DAY - SUPER DUTY TOUGH WORK - WINNIPEG, MB
2017 - CALGARY FOLK FESTIVAL MAINSTAGE - JOHN K. SAMSON - CALGARY, AB
2017 - WINNIPEG FOLK FESTIVAL MAINSTAGE - JOHN K. SAMSON - WINNIPEG, MB
2017 - HILLSIDE FESTIVAL - CARLY DOW - GUELPH, ON
2017 - FORT YORK MAINSTAGE - WILLIAM PRINCE - TORONTO, ON
2017 - AS THOUGH I HAD WINGS - WINNIPEG’S CONTEMPORARY DANCERS - WINNIPEG, MB
2016 - WINTER WHEAT LP release - JOHN K. SAMSON - THE MOD CLUB - TORONTO, ON
2015 - FOR THE TURNSTILES - WINNIPEG CONTEMPORARY DANCERS, JOHN K. SAMSON, CHRISTINE FELLOWS, JASON TAIT - GAS STATION ARTS CENTRE - WINNIPEG, MB
ENSEMBLES & BANDS (SELECTED)
JOHN K. SAMSON
SCOTT NOLAN
CARLY DOW
SIERRA NOBLE
GABI OCEJO
CHRISTINE FELLOWS
CHUCK COPENACE
SUPER DUTY TOUGH WORK
BRETT NELSON
CommissionS & STAGE works
2023 - BURNING MOM - Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre
2023 - SEXUAL MISCONDUCT OF THE MIDDLE CLASSES - Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre
2023 - TROUBLE IN MIND - Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre / Citadel Theatre
2022 - INERTIA - Loose Tea Music Theatre
2021 - ORLANDO - Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre
2021 - MOVING IN, MOVING OUT - Weather Parade Dance Theatre
2020 - PLAYER ONE SELECT - The Forks Corporation
2019 - NOTHING DOING - Inertial Response - Sam Penner - Rachel Brown Theatre
2018 - GRATITUDES - ART HOLM SERIES - West End Cultural Centre
2018 - I TRACE YOU, YOU TRACE ME - WEATHER PARADE DANCE THEATRE - Asper Centre for Theatre & Film
2017 - AS THOUGH I HAD WINGS - WINNIPEG’S CONTEMPORARY DANCERS - Rachel Brown Theatre
2016 - A SMALL IDEA - WEATHER PARADE DANCE THEATRE - Manitoba Theatre for Young People
2015 - FOR THE TURNSTILES - WINNIPEG’S CONTEMPORARY DANCERS, w/ John K. Samson, Christine Fellows & Jason Tait - Gas Station Arts Centre
ASSOCIATIONS
WEST END CULTURAL CENTRE - VICE-PRESIDENT - 2020 - PRESENT
FACTOR CANADA - DIVERSITY & INCLUSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE - 2019 - PRESENT
WE ROCK WINNIPEG - BOARD OF DIRECTORS - 2017 - PRESENT
CREATIVE MANITOBA - BOARD OF DIRECTORS - 2016 - 2022
ARTS ADMINISTRATION
CLUSTER: NEW MUSIC + INTEGRATED ARTS FESTIVAL - Artistic Director - 2020 - Present
MANITOBA MUSIC + CREATIVE MANITOBA // YOUTH MENTORSHIP PROGRAM - Lead Mentor - 2020 - Present
PRIDE WINNIPEG FESTIVAL - Festival Producer - 2019 - Present
CONTEMPORARY VERSE 2 - Production, Design & Circulation Manager / Workshops Co-ordinator - 2012 - Present
CANADA PRIDE FESTIVAL - Festival Producer - 2022
ACEARTINC. - Fundraising Co-ordinator - 2013 - 2016
ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET - Professional Division Registrar - 2012 - 2013