Violin
Jack Ashton began violin lessons at age 8 while living in Pocatello, Idaho. He studied privately with Melba Lindsay Burton until high school, and then transferred to Dr. David Shand, with whom he studied through his junior year in college. Ashton also studied with Sally Peck, of the Utah Symphony Orchestra; Oscar Chassow, Concertmaster of the Utah Symphony Orchestra, Berl Senofsky of Peabody Conservatory, and Symon Goldberg of the KonzertgebauOrchester. In 1965, Ashton was accepted into the Utah Symphony Orchestra (USO), then under the direction of Maurice Abravanel. He performed as a member of the USO for 48 years.
Mr. Ashton studied for 2 years at both the University of Utah School of Business, and Department of Foreign Languages, graduating in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts in German and a Secondary Education Teaching Certificate. He completed many graduate credit hours in both German and Music Education. As a professional violinist, Ashton spent 25 years as Assistant Principal Second Violin with the USO, and spent 10 years playing first violin in a string quartet with Young Audiences Inc. He taught orchestra for 35 years at Olympus High School.
Mr. Ashton has maintained an active private studio for 60 years, and has served as an adjunct instructor at Utah State University, Westminster College, and beginning in 2007 Snow College. During his tenure at Snow College, Mr. Ashton has provided nurturing instruction and mentorship to dozens of young musicians. The Horne School of Music is grateful to Mr. Ashton for passing the torch of his wisdom and experience to a new generation of string players.
