Ashley Hall students continue to distinguish themselves on the stage and in the studio, earning recognition at the local, state, and even national level for their remarkable musical talents. Whether composing original works, performing in elite ensembles, or receiving prestigious certifications, our students are rising stars in the world of music—and they’re doing it with grace, dedication, and heart. 

Music lessons are offered as an extracurricular option at Ashley Hall, and the number of students choosing to pursue private instruction is growing. This year, the results speak volumes—not only in accolades but in the passion and discipline our musicians bring to their craft. 

All-State Orchestra Honors

After an incredibly competitive audition process, three middle school students earned their place in the South Carolina Music Educators Association 6–8th Grade All-State Orchestra:

• Sky Malloy ’28 (cello)
• Ruby Ghatnekar ’29 (violin)
• Adya Sharma ’29 (cello)

These talented young musicians spent a weekend in Spartanburg rehearsing with top student musicians from across the state, culminating in a powerful full-orchestra performance under the baton of a renowned conductor. Special thanks to their private lesson teachers—Zoe Walker, Aubrey Goio, and Cameron Williams—for helping them prepare for this honor.

Royal Conservatory of Music Recognition

Congratulations to Pearson James ’34, who earned a Royal Conservatory State Certificate of Excellence in piano—an Ashley Hall first! Pearson’s dedication and artistry were celebrated at a Lower School Assembly this year.

Also deserving applause is Beatrice Watson ’31, who received the highest mark in South Carolina for Level 2 Piano from the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Carnegie Hall Appearance

A special bravo to Adya Sharma ’29, who recently performed at Carnegie Hall with the Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra (CSYO). Sharma has been an active CSYO member and string quartet performer, joining the orchestra onstage alongside the College of Charleston Orchestra and the Charleston Symphony Orchestra—an ensemble that includes several of Ashley Hall’s own string faculty members: Ben Weiss (viola), Frances Hsieh (violin), and Maggie Gould (violin).

Charleston Achievement Day Accolades

Seventeen Ashley Hall pianists participated in the Charleston Music Teachers Association’s Achievement Day at Charleston Southern University this March. This event challenges young musicians to showcase their skills in performance, technique, sight reading, and music theory. Ellie Murphy ’32 was named an alternate for her level and recognized in the Honors Recital program. Sriya Banik ’30 received the Crescendo Award and a trophy for consistently high scores. Thanks to our outstanding piano faculty—Anna Brock, Dan McCurry, Jan Smith, and Dr. Sooyun Yun—for their mentorship.

Charleston Achievement Day Participants:

• Naomi Grek ’33
• Sophie Deupree ’35
• Charlotte Deupree ’33
• Katie Solomon ’34
• Ellie Murphy ’32
• Sriya Banik ’30
• Jaalah Brown ’26
• Lucy David ’28
• Ella Donohoe ’31
• Annie Donohoe ’33
• Emilia Goodwin ’32
• Elly Middleton ’33
• Madeleine Kopf ’29
• Rhetta Lowndes ’31
• Sidney James ’36
• Pearson James ’34
• Suzanne Groat ’27

Composition Competition Triumphs

Our students aren’t just performing—they’re creating. This year saw an impressive sweep across composition contests, from local to international stages.

Highlights include:

Charlotte Deupree ’33, whose original work “Night Waves” won 1st place in the NFMC Junior Composers Contest (South Carolina), Winner in the Southeast Regional round, and Winner of the South Carolina Music Teachers Association Composition Competition (Elementary Solo). She also received Honorable Mention in the International Piano Composition Contest.

Naomi Grek ’33 composed “Bunny Rabbit Hare,” which placed 2nd in the Charleston Sonatina Festival, won in the International Piano Composition Contest, and received Honorable Mention in the Piano Inspires Kids Magazine “Movie Score” Contest.

Eleanor Gilliespie ’35 earned Runner-Up in the SCMTAC Composition Competition (Elementary Solo) for “The Cave.”

Camila Zuniga ’28 was named Runner-Up in the Piano Inspires Kids Magazine “Movie Score” Contest (13–15 age group) for her piece “Mysteries.”

We are incredibly proud of these students—and the dedicated faculty who guide them—for representing Ashley Hall with such talent and determination. Their achievements show just how far music can take you when passion meets opportunity.

Bravo to all!

Rooted in inquiry-based learning and transdisciplinary exploration, the PYP empowers and invites students to be active participants in their own educational journey. In our recent Perspectives feature, we introduced readers to the IB framework and its impact on student learning. Now, we invite you to take a deeper dive, pun intended, into one vivid example: the Third Grade Biome Project.

Exploring “How We Organize Ourselves” Through Oceans

This year’s third grade students embarked on a powerful exploration under the PYP transdisciplinary theme “How We Organize Ourselves,” centering on the central idea: “Interactions between the natural world and human societies impact biomes.”

Through an inquiry lens, students investigated:

• Relationships within a biome
• How biomes sustain themselves
• The impacts humans have on these systems

After exploring a variety of global biomes, the class unanimously chose to focus on oceans—a rich, complex ecosystem teeming with life and deeply influenced by human activity.

Integrating Art, Science, Language, and Movement

This ocean biome study was not confined to textbooks or single-subject classrooms. In true IB fashion, it became a multidisciplinary, immersive experience that spanned the entire campus:

Art 

Students studied the work of Courtney Mattison, a renowned artist and ocean advocate. Inspired by her sculptures and mission, students reflected on the role of advocacy. Their voices were poignant:

“She’s translating what the coral reef needs.” – Amélie

“An advocate is a politician for the ocean…not making laws, but encouraging people to care.” – Olive

From these reflections, students began to understand their own roles as stewards and communicators of environmental responsibility.

STEAM Lab

With creativity and engineering at the helm, students constructed a detailed, walk-through installation of the ocean zones. The lab transformed into an underwater world featuring:

• A 3-D coral reef and underwater volcano
• Giant squid and a cookiecutter shark
• Hanging jellies, plastic bottle trash, and pufferfish 
• A stop-motion film depicting the human impact on the ocean

These tactile experiences made abstract scientific concepts tangible and memorable.

Movement and Music

In dance class, students listened to ocean-inspired compositions and created interpretive dances to express their emotional responses. Music and French classes added another sensory layer, where students created original ocean soundscapes and stop-motion films narrated en français.

Bringing It All Together

The project culminated in a full-room installation, a fully immersive experience. Students guided visitors through and excitedly explained which parts they worked on, why they made the choices they did, and how it all came together for them. Through movement, sound, visuals, and conversation, guests were invited to “jump into the water” and reflect on their own relationship with the ocean.

The Ocean Biome Project exemplifies what the IB PYP does best: it fosters curious thinkers, creative problem solvers, compassionate communicators, and globally minded citizens. By combining academic depth with expressive freedom, the project helped students understand their world better, gather context on their role in what they were studying and organically present ways to improve it. 

As one student so wisely put it: “The ocean can’t talk, but it can wave!” – Caroline T.

During the 2024–25 school year, Ashley Hall’s long-standing Pop Tab Collection initiative experienced a meaningful transformation as it aligned with the School’s United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) project. The project invited students in Grades 1–12 to see a familiar activity in a new light, as the school community collectively focused on Goal #3: Good Health and Well-Being, to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being.

With the added context, the Pop Tab Collection project took on renewed purpose. Students gathered the aluminum tabs from beverage cans to benefit Charleston’s Ronald McDonald House, helping offset operational expenses through recycling revenue. While small, these pop tabs add up quickly—over 1,200 make a pound—and are far easier to clean and store than full cans, making the campaign both manageable and effective.

Tyler Moseley, Community Partnerships and Global Education Coordinator, shared her enthusiasm for the initiative’s evolution, noting that the UNSDG connection offered students a deeper global context: “Through the UNSDG filter, we’re able to give our students a global perspective and also help them understand that small actions within their community can have real impacts. That’s what the UNSDGs are all about—concrete ways to make the world a better place.”

This year’s program also benefited from the enthusiastic involvement of the Big Sister Little Sister program, which added a collaborative and competitive spirit to the effort. Upper School students teamed up with their younger “Littles” to collect tabs together, sparking cross-divisional camaraderie and grade-level challenges that boosted participation across the Lower School.

By linking a well-known tradition to a globally recognized goal, Ashley Hall gave new meaning to a beloved service activity. The 2024–25 Pop Tab Collection was a powerful example of how small, everyday actions, when framed by broader values, can become transformative educational experiences.

Looking ahead to the 2025–26 school year, Ashley Hall is excited to expand this work by taking a more holistic and integrated approach to the UNSDGs. With an eye toward exploring the interconnectedness of the goals, the school community plans to broaden its lens, encouraging students to examine how health, sustainability, equity, and innovation can intersect in meaningful ways. This widened focus will continue to empower students to think critically, act locally, and engage globally in making positive change.

The Ashley Hall Spirit Store will be open this summer, providing families with the opportunity to shop for gently used uniform pieces and school merchandise. Check out the summer schedule below and visit us!

Spirit Store Sumer Schedule

Ashley Hall and Away: Celebrating the Class of 2025!

With talent, heart, and determination, Ashley Hall’s 47 seniors have left an unforgettable mark on our school community. From academic excellence to leadership and service, this remarkable class has truly done it all—and now, they’re ready to take on the world. We couldn’t be prouder of their journey; their next chapter is just beginning.

🎓 Click below to explore the full list of college acceptances and see where our graduates are headed next!

View the Class of 2025 Acceptance List

View the Commencement Photo Gallery

LOWER & MIDDLE SCHOOL | Grades K-7

This spring, 47 kindergarten to seventh-grade students signed up for an exciting and unique opportunity: learning to sail. The sailing program, hosted by Charleston Community Sailing (CCS) and supported by volunteers from Ashley Hall and the Charleston Yacht Club, brought together a group of enthusiastic girls eager to develop skills on the water. From overcoming fears to learning new sailing techniques, these young sailors experienced growth, teamwork, and a sense of accomplishment that will stay with them for years. 

Confidence on the Water

One of the program’s most inspiring outcomes has been the participants’ development of confidence. Sailing was a new challenge for many of the younger sailors, especially those in the “guppy” class (kindergarten and first grade). At the beginning of the sessions, some were hesitant to get on the boats, unsure of what to expect. However, as the weeks passed, those same children were eager to hop aboard each week, smiles wide as they sailed confidently on the water.

Experienced sailors also played a significant role in helping their peers. The older and more experienced participants took on leadership roles, assisting the younger sailors with everything from rigging the boats to showing them how to steer. This peer-to-peer support created a positive, encouraging environment where everyone could learn together.

Overcoming the Water Comfort Test

A critical aspect of the program involved a “water comfort test,” designed to help students feel at ease in the water. The girls had to get into the water, which was colder than expected for the program’s start. There was some initial concern among parents about the frigid temperatures, but the instructors assured everyone they had experience managing these situations. The girls showed remarkable resilience, with many facing the chilly water without hesitation.

Throughout this challenge, the instructors emphasized the importance of staying calm and composed, even in less-than-ideal conditions. Learning to take deep breaths and remain steady in the water became an important lesson that translated into increased confidence both on the water and in their everyday lives.

The Life Skills Gained from Sailing

While sailing is undoubtedly fun, the lessons learned extend beyond just how to handle a boat. Independence and perseverance were key themes of the program. Sailing requires participants to leave their comfort zones, deal with wet clothes, and manage unpredictable weather conditions. For many, these were new and challenging experiences. But as the weeks passed, the girls learned to embrace these challenges, pushing themselves in ways they never thought possible.

By the end of the program, the young sailors had not only learned the technical skills of sailing, like how to steer the boat and adjust the sails, but also developed valuable life skills. They became more independent, learning to take responsibility for their actions on the water. This independence, combined with the ability to overcome adversity, is something they will carry with them long after the sailing sessions are over.

Acknowledging Volunteers and Support

The success of this program wouldn’t have been possible without the support of many dedicated volunteers. Special thanks to Windy Key and Caroline Main from CCS, and to Jeffrey Stasz, an Ashley Hall parent, who all played pivotal roles in organizing the program. Also, thanks to Ashley Hall faculty member Mia Smith, who has been instrumental in helping the younger sailors. Smith’s sailing experience and familiarity with the students made her an invaluable resource in guiding them through each lesson. Additionally, Walker Ewing ’32, a junior instructor and Ashley Hall student, was invaluable with the youngest group, demonstrating key techniques to the girls and serving as a role model for leadership and teamwork.

Parent volunteers also played an essential role in the program’s success. They supported the program in various ways, from helping with logistics to cheering on the kids from the Burgie Bar at the Charleston Yacht Club. Their involvement made the program more enjoyable and created a supportive community around the sailing experience.

A Bright Future for the Program

Looking ahead, the sailing program’s future is promising. There are discussions about expanding it to a twice-yearly offering—both in the spring and fall—which could provide more opportunities for young sailors to gain exposure to the sport. With the recent hiring of a new executive director at CCS, there are high hopes for the program’s continued growth and development. Sailing is not only about the technical aspects of the sport but also about the personal growth and life lessons that come along with it.

Overall, the spring sailing program was a huge success. The confidence, independence, and sailing skills growth have been remarkable, and the feedback from participants, volunteers, and parents has been overwhelmingly positive. As the program expands and grows, the hope is that even more children will have the chance to experience the life-changing benefits of sailing. Whether they go on to pursue sailing further or carry the lessons they’ve learned into the future, these young sailors are already equipped with valuable skills that will serve them well in life.

Looking ahead, there’s hope for a fall program as well. This would provide another chance for students to return to the water and build upon what they’ve already learned. Expanding the program to two seasons—spring and fall—would allow even more kids to enjoy the benefits of sailing and develop key life skills in a fun, supportive environment.

To all the volunteers, parents, and participants, thank you for making this experience so special. We look forward to seeing what’s next for this incredible program!