Southern California based composer-instrumentalist Ashley Hoyer’s myriad talents and musical accomplishments defy easy description or classification. Fluent on mandolin, violin, and cello, Hoyer crafts melodies, sonic textures and haunting harmonies that distinguish her works easily from the norm. Classically trained in violin as a child, Hoyer discovered the mandolin at age eight, then took up the cello in college. Described as a "mandolin phenomenon" by the San Diego Tribune and highly sought after by a wide range of musicians needing to round out their sound, Hoyer has performed in folk clubs, festivals, bars, dance halls, orchestras, and recording studios. Her duo with accordionist Samantha Harvey, Sam ‘n Ash, was featured on the wildly popular podcast “Welcome to Night Vale,” and Hearth Music raved that The Syncopaths, an in-demand, nationally touring, folk quartet with whom she plays regularly, are "a helluva a band to imitate, and I doubt anyone could do justice to their virtuosic tunes." Hoyer also collaborates with violinist, Edwin Huizinga, and guitarist, William Coulter, fusing Bach with traditional and contemporary folk tunes. The trio premiered their "Partita Americana" at the 2018 Carmel Bach Festival. Her all-original folk trio, Long Story Short, plan to tour their debut album in 2022.

Always captivated by composition, Hoyer initially began writing music in fiddle tune form. Craving a new creative medium, she forayed into composing for chamber ensembles and orchestra. The Channel Islands Orchestral Suite, an eight-movement piece, is her most ambitious undertaking yet. A world premiere was performed by The Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra in October 2019. A studio recording is scheduled for February 2022.

Some past performances include:

Carmel Bach Festival, Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Wintergrass Festival, Lake Eden and Arts Festival, Millpond Festival, Northwest Folklife Festival, Freight and Salvage, Blackstone River Theater, The Station Inn, Swallow Hill, Bijou Theater, UCSC, CSSM, CSUCI, Cal Tech.