The young Ashley began playing the flute and attended the Interlochen Center for the Arts in the summers during high school.

She soon switched to a vocal major and, in 1973, was an apprentice singer with the Santa Fe Opera during its summer festival.

She completed her Bachelor of Music degree program in May, 1974, and then began her graduate studies at UM.

She returned to Santa Fe's Apprentice Singer Program in summer 1975, and then finished her Master of Music degree in December, 1975.

Ashley Putnam is a former member of the voice faculty at the Manhattan School of Music, and has a private studio in New York.