Ashley Serrano is a guitarist and music educator whose work spans private instruction, higher education, and performance. She began teaching herself electric guitar at age 14, inspired by artists including Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Prince, Steve Vai, and John Petrucci. Her early love of electric guitar eventually led her to pursue formal training in both classical and contemporary guitar.
Ashley earned her Associate of Arts in Music with an emphasis in classical guitar, studying under Dr. David Chapman. She later attended McNally Smith College of Music, where she studied with Dr. Eva Beneke and earned a Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance.
In 2017, Ashley continued her studies at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, where she received a scholarship to study with Grammy-winning guitarist Scott Tennant and legendary classical guitarist Pepe Romero. She earned her Master of Music with honors.
Ashley has been a member of the CSMA faculty since 2019 and currently serves as a Lecturer in Music at California State University, Stanislaus, where she teaches guitar. Her appointment brings her musical journey full circle, as she now works with her former teacher and mentor, Dr. David Chapman. She also maintains an active teaching and performance career throughout the Bay Area.
