"Ashley Dao's Artistic Path Leads to 2024 Graduation Address"
**UCLA Graduate Ashley Dao Shines in Musicology and Artistic Leadership**
Ashley Dao, a graduating student from Garden Grove, California, is making waves in the realm of musicology and artistic leadership. With a bachelor's degree from UCLA under her belt, Dao has left an indelible mark on the university and the broader artistic community.
Dao's journey in music began at a young age, participating in various competitions and ensembles, including serving as a drum major in the concert band. Her passion for music grew, leading her to delve deeper into the field, particularly the humanistic side of musicology.
Dao's undergraduate work at UCLA challenged her perspective on the study of music, inspiring her to lean more towards the humanistic side of the field. This shift was further solidified when she attended a lecture series at UCLA's musicology department and met musicology professor Elisabeth Le Guin.
Dao's academic achievements are impressive. She has won several awards at UCLA, including the Dean's Prize for Excellence in Research and Creativity, the UCLA Music Library Prize for Best Project on Music after 1900, and a campus-wide award for leadership from the UCLA Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. She was also the first undergraduate student ever selected as an honorable mention for the Ingolf Dahl Award.
Dao's contributions extend beyond the classroom. She co-founded the Schoenberg Art Walk, a meeting of artists across UCLA, with Dalton Mumphrey. Through this initiative, she brought notable figures like Corey Harris, an American blues musician and MacArthur Fellowship winner, to campus and helped organise the Jacob Collier masterclass.
Dao's academic interests are diverse. She has a passion for piano and classical music, particularly the French Impressionists like Debussy and Ravel. To deepen her understanding, she formed an informal book club with friends during her undergraduate years at UCLA, reading books on musicology and the intersection between music and critical race theory. One of the books read by the book club was Nina Eidsheim's "The Race of Sound."
Looking ahead, Dao plans to take a year off before pursuing graduate school. She is considering writing a book based on one of her projects. On the conference circuit, Dao will be giving a paper at the Music and the Moving Image conference at NYU about nostalgia and empathy in Todd Haynes's Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story. The conference, which took place from May 24 to May 26, 2024, brings together scholars across disciplines and professionals in the media industry, including filmmakers and audio engineers.
Dao's journey is a testament to her dedication, passion, and leadership in the field of musicology. As a descendant of refugees and immigrants from South Vietnam, her story is a beacon of hope and inspiration for many.
- Ashley Dao's lifestyle reflects a passion for education-and-self-development and personal-growth, as demonstrated by her pursuit of musicology and leadership roles in the artistic community.
- With a focus on relationships, Dao collaborated with the Schoenberg Art Walk co-founder Dalton Mumphrey to bring renowned artists like Corey Harris and Jacob Collier to UCLA, fostering a vibrant community of creative individuals.
- Beyond her career-development in musicology, Dao aspires to expand her horizons further, planning a year off before graduate school and considering writing a book, experiencing the intersection of entertainment and music in new ways.
