Ashley Faatoalia '06

Tenor Ashley Faatoalia is a native of Southern California. His most recent engagements include his debut performance with San Francisco Opera as The Crab Man in Porgy and Bess, his debut performance with San Francisco Lyric Opera as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, and his performance with Operafestival di Roma as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte. Faatoalia has also performed with Los Angeles Opera at The LA Music Center and The Los Angeles Philharmonic at the historic Hollywood Bowl.

While at Chapman, Faatoalia studied vocal performance with his teacher and mentor, Dr. Peter Atherton. As a member of Opera Chapman, Faatoalia performed the roles of Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Ferrando in Cosi Fan Tutte, Basilio in Le Nozze di Figaro, and A Sailor in Dido and Aeneas. In his senior year, Faatoalia proudly served as president of the University Choir under the baton of Dr. William Hall.

Most recently, he was honored by the Pasadena Opera Guild in their scholarship competition for his continued success as a young artist. Other awards include: The Opera 100 Competition, The NAACP-ACTSO Competition, The BEAM Foundation, The William Grant Still Performing Arts Society Competition, district finalist for the MET Competition, and Chapman University’s Bramledge Award for outstanding performance in an opera.

Critical Acclaim:
“Other standouts among the large cast included Ashley Faatoalia as the Crab Man – a vendor so sweet-toned and ingratiating that for once the digression seemed worthwhile.” - San Francisco Chronicle

“Best equipped were tenor Ashley Faatoalia, as Don Ottavio…Faatoalia has a voice winning purity and variety of expression” - Opera News

“There were some hauntingly beautiful cameos as well…Ashley Faatoalia’s Crab Man filled the air with weird, alluring aural poetry.” - Opera News

“An especially pleasant surprise was Ashley Faatoalia in the generally thankless role of Don Ottavio, lover of the high-strung Donna Anna (sung by Duana Demus Leslie). This was this was the first time I actually looked forward to Don Ottavio’s solo moments, thanks to Faatoalia’s soaring tenor and warm stage presence.” - SF Weekly

“Ashley Faatoalia’s tenor voice is right for the difficult part of Don Ottavio – high clear and warm…He is secure and expressive, especially in his singing of “Il Mio Tesoro” - San Francisco Classical Voice

Ashley Faatoalia as The Crab Man in San Francisco Opera's production of "Porgy and Bess"