Ashley Mendeke is a musician and photographer living in New York City.

Noted for her multifaceted work, Ashley has performed throughout the Hudson Valley and NYC communities, for nationally-televised broadcasts on ABC and NBC, and local NYC media outlets.

In her current role as piccolo player with the West Point Band, Ashley performs in traditional ceremonies that honor the history and rich musical heritage of West Point and the Tri-State region. Recently, she received first prize in the 2021 Walfrid Kujala International Piccolo Competition, commended for a “gorgeous singing-like tone and resonance that hugged her sound.” Prior to achieving her current position (2013), Ashley toured with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra and was a freelance flutist and instructor in Dallas, Texas. 

Wanting to expand her creativity and storytelling, Ashley picked up photography and videography in 2015. She enjoys photographing concerts as well as portraits. With an appreciation for documentary style, she aims to calibrate the visual aesthetic to the personality of the performer/subject. 

Ashley received bachelor’s degrees in Flute Performance and Music Education while studying with Mary Karen Clardy at the University of North Texas, where she was named the 2010-11 Presser Scholar. Her mentors also include Bart Feller, Mindy Kaufman, Keith Underwood, and Sonya Mendeke (her mother), visual artist and art director.