Ashlei Peoples
Band Director, Pianist
Ashlei Peoples is a gifted and classically trained pianist who has been playing the piano for
twenty years. During her upbringing, she frequently played the piano for her home church, First
AME Church of Manassas as well as playing for the Praise Team at her school, Christ Chapel
Academy. Ashlei decided to attend Spelman College where she received a $15,000 scholarship
to be the accompanist for the Spelman College Glee Club and Spelman College Jazz Ensemble.
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
Director of the Spelman College Jazz Ensemble, a Music teacher for the Atlanta In Home Music
Teachers Company, as well as the Assistant Music Director for the Atlanta Music Festival Camp.
She has played the piano with her band as the opening performance for Jean Carne, Michael
Henderson, and the Dramatics.
During her time at Spelman College, she frequently accompanied the vocal students on the
piano for recitals, competitions, and auditions. She served as the pianist for the opera The
Marriage of Figaro at Clark Atlanta University. She has also performed as a solo pianist for The
Atlanta University Center Orchestra. She has been a participant in the All-Female Jazz
Residency directed by jazz extraordinaire Geri Allen and she has been the opening performance
for the Kenyatta Jazz Festival at Spelman College. Ashlei also served as a freelance church
musician for several churches in the Atlanta, Georgia area such as The Great Stone Church, and
First Congregational Church. She also served as the Children’s Choir pianist at Martin Luther
King Jr. National Historic Site called Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Currently, Ashlei Peoples is an Elementary School Music Teacher with DC Public Schools. She is
also a piano accompanist at Howard University, Georgetown University, and a freelance
musician for many other events and concerts in the DMV area. Ashlei truly enjoys sharing her
passion and love for music with others and teaching children the importance of versatility and
embracing all different types of music genres.