Sarah Motes Ashley is a classically trained composer, singer/songwriter, and librettist. While an undergraduate, she wrote book, lyrics and music for three musicals produced at James Madison University. After college, she focused on songwriting and performing, singing her songs in Chicago, piano bars, both solo and with her harmony group “The Blondes.“ She wrote, performed, and arranged during those years in Chicago. She also ran a couple of marathons and got her music masters’ degree. She has songs licensed and playing all over the world, in places you’ve never heard of, and a few songs recorded by independent artists. In 2015 she wrote another musical which was produced at her old high school (it’s a long story). Sarah has written a pair of two-act plays, a small pile of one-act and short plays, and four musicals (book, lyrics, music). She is up to her eyeballs in her fifth show Raven, and will have it done by the end of 2025. Since she lives in a small town, finding co-writers and collaborators has been difficult, but she keeps looking. She lives in the mountains of East Tennessee with her family. She sings with the symphony chorus, and with her harmony group Blesser Heart. She meets up with fellow playwrights every Thursday night to workshop scenes with The Playwrights’ Group, where unwavering support and unvarnished critique come together.