Norm Ashley's introduction to music came when he started violin at the age of 8. He attended Ball State Teachers College in Muncie, Indiana, his home town, graduating with Bachelor and Masters degrees in Music. Norm taught orchestra and band in Rialto, California, Grand Junction, Durango at Fort Lewis College, and Colorado Springs, before returning to Junction to finish his career as a math teacher. He served as concertmaster of the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra for more than twenty years and continues playing in it as well as in chamber music and fiddle groups. During that time Norm also acted as music supervisor and directed choirs at First United Methodist Church of Grand Junction.
Norm considers the time he spent directing the Schumann Singers as one of the high points of his musical career, a time of great joy.
Norm and his wife Merle have been happily married for 20 years. They have one son, two daughters, and three grandsons. He enjoys camping with Merle and their Yorkie Toby, paddling his kayak, riding a recumbent bike and fiddling at every opportunity.