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Ashley Dawson

@ashrenee.daws

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Non-Profit Arts Administrator
SphinxLEAD Cohort 8
Musician + Crafter
Wife to @alvindawsonmusic

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A few days with Cohort 8, a lot to carry forward 🐧 💙

Thank you to The Juilliard School for welcoming Sphinx LEAD Cohort 8 for a retreat centered on connection, reflection, and growth.

Time together like this matters. It gives LEADers space to step away from the pace of their day-to-day work, learn from one another, ask bigger questions, and return to their organizations with new perspective.

We’re grateful to Juilliard for helping create the space for these conversations, and to Cohort 8 for showing up with openness, curiosity, and care.

📅 Applications for Sphinx LEAD Cohort 9 are due tomorrow, October 20.

💬 Comment LEAD and we’ll send you everything you need to apply!

📸 Robert Moncrieff

#SphinxLEAD #Juilliard #ArtsLeadership #SphinxOrganization

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#Aquarius energy: Hard to copy. Impossible to ignore.

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Time, space, and community 🫱🏿‍🫲🏾

Sphinx LEAD Cohort 8 gathered at @idyllwildarts for a few days of reflection, connection, and leadership in practice.

Grateful to Idyllwild Arts for hosting and for creating an environment where this work can take shape.

💬 Comment LEAD to learn more about Sphinx LEAD!

#SphinxLEAD #ArtsLeadership #SphinxOrganization

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🗣️ “SphinxLEAD came into my life at exactly the right moment.”

Ashley Dawson, Cohort 8, has stepped into a new role as Vice President of Marketing at the Santa Barbara Center for Performing Arts | The Granada Theatre.

Through LEAD, Ashley reflects, “The program has challenged me to see myself as a leader — not just someone doing the work, but someone capable of shaping the direction of an organization. It has reinforced that effective leadership is not about having all the answers, but about showing up with intention and surrounding yourself with the right community.”

“The relationships I have built… have been invaluable.”

We’re proud to celebrate this moment and all that’s ahead.

💬 Comment LEAD to learn more!

#SphinxLEAD #ArtsLeadership #SphinxOrganization

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Finally feel like I’m breathing a little easier! Here’s to the busiest I’ve ever been (not even kidding). Months of laughter and my new found love for McCrispies! (Try them!) To the time I almost got stuck in a winter storm in Detroit, but met some amazing people!

New favorite saying: Sir, lock in! Lock in!

Pictured is my youth pastor turned bestie!

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Right on time ⏰

SphinxConnect 2026: DISCOVER begins tomorrow!

If you have been meaning to join us and today feels like the moment, there is space for YOU!

💬 Comment DISCOVER to receive a free registration code!

🗓️ January 22–24, 2026
📍 Detroit and virtual

#SphinxConnect2026 #DISCOVER #SphinxCommunity #ArtsLeadership

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I’m honored to share that I’ve been selected as a member of Cohort 8 of the Sphinx LEAD Fellowship.

Back in 2019, while I was still in college and seriously considering walking away from music altogether, Sphinx changed my life. It introduced me to a world beyond the perception I had of myself, my place in this field, and what success in the arts could look like for my community. It helped me imagine a future rooted not in isolation or survival, but in possibility, excellence, and belonging.

I’m deeply excited to step into this next chapter: learning how to continue using the arts as a tool to steward support, build systems of care, and lead community, especially during a time marked by division and unrest.

It means the world to join the ranks of the LEADers who came before me and to be among the company of the brilliant artists in Cohort 8.

Thank you to my family and friends for grounding me, and to the Black Orchestral Network for showing me—by example—what collective, values-driven leadership truly looks like.

Onward, with purpose.

#SphinxLEAD #Community #ArtsForChange #BlackOrchestralNetwork #FocusOnYourArt

@sphinxorg

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Introducing Sphinx LEAD Cohort 8 💛

These leaders are artists, educators, administrators, and vision builders shaping the future of our field. Over the next two years, they will learn together, challenge one another, and deepen their leadership through community and practice.

Please join us in welcoming Cohort 8.

Ashley Dawson, Director of Marketing and Database Services, The Granada Theatre
Lauren Blair Smith, Founder, Artistic Director, and Choreographer, Lauren Blair Smith Dance Company
José M. Meza, Associate Director of Education, Los Angeles Master Chorale
Mason Kinkead, Administrative Manager, Music Advancement Program, The Juilliard School
Dr. Sheena Gutierrez, Director of Communications and Individual Giving, Sphinx Organization
David Norville, Development and Communications Manager, Project Music Heals Us
Megan Delatour, Artistic Planner, Inner City Youth Orchestra of New York
Nicole Ortiz, Summer and Special Programs Manager, University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music
Laurel Toyofuku, Creative Consultant

We are honored to walk this journey with you!

Comment LEAD to learn more about Cohort 8 and the Sphinx LEAD program.

#SphinxLEAD #ArtsLeadership #SphinxConnect #LeadershipInTheArts

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My bass friends and I started this Boogie Oogie Oogie collaboration last year. It’s still a project in the works; there are other bassists parts that need to be added. But, this is where we are today. It’s always fun collaborating with everyone. And as always, a special thanks to Alvin @alvindawsonmusic for providing drums.
🎵
Bass:
Ashley: @ashrenee.daws
Delilah: @rawgemsrefined
Cheryl: @cherylquinterobass

Bassoon:
Ashley: @ashrenee.daws

Vocals:
Montana: @montanajoannastandish

#progress #music #bass #femalebassist #boogieoogieoogie

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Just some good times at Antelope Island 😍🥰
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#antelopeisland #utah #utahphotographer #mountains #buffalos #utahphotography #adventure #sistersquad #neicelove #stupidass #ratatata

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A little hike today 😅👌🏽
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#hike #utah #fifthwaterhotsprings #sweaty #legsarekillingme #gonnabesosore #hikersofinstagram #hikemore #utahphotographer

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Another happy beautiful bride!!!
Ashley was torn between two dresses but in the end she went with the dress she envisioned herself walking down the aisle 👰
So happy to be a part of your finding your #dreamdress adventure!!! 🥰
WELCOME to the #dellacurvafamily
#weloveourbrides #curvyweddingdress #curvybrides #shesaidyes #instabride #missstellayork #myweekendbrides #ilovemyjob #bopo #noviasconcurvas #fairygodmothermode

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