Biography

Ayala Asherov – 1968 –

Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, to a family of actors. (Both Parents were actors of Israel's National Theatre, Habima of whom both grandparents were among the founders). Influenced by and drown to drama from a very early age, Ayala found her path and dramatic expression through music.

Ayala’s music ranges from songwriting to music in the concert hall to programmatic and multimedia including film, theater, museum exhibitions and dance. Some of her songs are published and recorded by celebrated Israeli artists, “Along the Sea” (“Le’Orech Ha Yam”) (lyrics and music), was recorded by Israeli renowned singer Ofra Haza (1994), and has become one of the most recorded songs in modern Israeli musical history. After Graduating Berklee College of Music in Boston (Bachelor of Music in composition and in film scoring) (1998) Ayala went on to receive her Masters in film scoring at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (2000). In creating music, she has always looked for opportunities to collaborate with other artistic disciplines. 

Selected Works:

South Carolina ETV (PBS) documentary series, “Carolina Stories” scored “The Forgotten Founder”, and “The Baruchs of Hobcaw”, Scored for an Israeli Educational Television documentary series on the Israeli theater entitled “Second Act”. 

“Elements”, a suite for original dance, Commissioned by the Department of Theater and Dance at the College of Charleston compositions. “Prelude to a Kiss and a Dance” was performed by the Namaste Ensemble in Rome, Italy, accompanied by dancers from the University of Southern California, Irvine. “Beh’Resheet” ( In the Beginning, combining text from the Scripture) for chamber orchestra, commissioned and premiered by Magnetic South (New Music Initiative), a collaborative program between the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and the College of Charleston School of Music. 

She continued to record and perform her own songs in her solo albums, “Crossing the River” (2007) Lyrics and music in Hebrew, “Colors & Shapes” (2015) all original songs in English, “Hitting the Keys” (2020) an EP culminating new original songs supported by a grant from ACUM. Featuring original chamber works performed by musicians from all over the world on the albums “Cycles of the Moon” (2013) “Time and the Hour” (2021) released by PARMA Recordings under the label Nexus.  

Featured in Israeli Music Festival:

“Nocturnal Dialogues”(2019) suite for flute and piano, “David in Love” (2020) a chamber Song Cycle for Tenor and Chamber Ensemble based on lyrics of internationally renown playwright Joshua Sobol, “Crystal Watch”(2022) for percussion ensemble, Tremolo. 

“David in Love” produced by the Tzavta Theatre in Tel Aviv,(2022) a full length Chamber Opera directed and written by playwriter Joshua Sobol featuring two singers and a five piece ensemble.

Selected Award:

Recipient of the Wild Acres Residency, winner of the Chamber Music Composition Award at the biennial Athena Music Festival for her flute trio “Seasons”, winner of the ASCAPlus Award. Recipient of the South Carolina Film Commission Indie Grants Award for “PencilPoint”, an animated short film scored for orchestra. Winner of the Kompolize – International Composition Competition by psophos in cooperation with the Lietzeorchester Berlin, for “Sounds without Words” for orchestra.

“Open Calls” – For a large ensemble, won an open call for a performance sponsored by CFI,  premiered at the 27^th Sounds of the Desert Festival) Performed by Tel Aviv Soloists Ensemble, conductor Barak Tal.(2024)

Teaching Experience

In addition to my activities as a composer,  I launched my interactive educational program “Music Tells The Story”™ (2013-2016) for inner city schools in collaboration with Communities in Schools ,The Addlestone Foundation, and the Charleston Symphony Orchestra reaching out as a composer and a performer with CSO musicians to public schools in underserved communities to help young students better understand literature and music. I continued the program as a presenter and composer, with a grant from the South Carolina Arts Commission and The Target Corporation. It was executed with great success in Israel with support from Karev Foundation.

College of Charleston (2014 – 2017)

The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance (2018 – 2022)

“The Raft of the Medusa” – A cycle of areas, by Joshua Sobol – inspired by his play The Raft of the Medusa inspired by the painting of
Théodore Géricault, Featured Arias with the Israeli Opera Studio Singers. (October 2023)

“Come to Wildlife” – Musical for children by playwrite Joshua Sobol, performed by the children’s chorus, Young Bat Kol Choir , of the Israeli conservatory (Premier May 2025)

Comissioned by the Kayden Music Commissioning Program at Juilliard Pre-College  a piano cello piece, that bridges the gap between student learning and professional performance, to be performed by cellist Zvi Pleser (April 2026)

Album release “Sotto Voce” (September 2025) of new original Chamber Works

“Cycles of the Moon” – for Viola and Strings, first performance in Israel with the Israel Camerata Jerusalem, Music director Avner Biron. (October 2025)

“Yizkor – Concerto for cello and Orchestra” to be performed by cellist Dian Chepman and the Jewish Community Orchestra of Portland Oregon, led by conductor and composer Don Appert (April 2026)

All music is available on Spotify and on YouTube