Ashley Hribar is an Australian pianist, composer and curator described as "a brilliant pianist and exceptional artist" (Heilbronner Stimme, Stuttgart). His practice spans live cinema, contemporary composition, improvisation and cross-disciplinary performance, embracing sources as wide as world music, electronics, extended techniques and traditional concert repertoire. His compositions have been described as poly-stylistic collages: works that move fluidly between the avant-garde and the deeply human.

Commissioned by organisations including the Goethe Institute Australia, the Tallis Foundation, the Dranoff Foundation, Silents Now (UK), Silent Remasters and ArtsSA, Ashley has composed and performed original soundtracks to silent films including Sherlock Jr. (1924), Hamlet (1921), Richard III (1911), Faust (1926), Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) and, to widespread critical acclaim, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) during his Australian tour.

Recent compositions include Murray Whispers, commissioned by the Adelaide Ballet; Elements for piano and electronics, written for dancer Monica Garcia Vicente (Hannover); and Wodunga for didgeridoo, piano and Moog DFAM, created in collaboration with William Barton and commissioned by ArtsSA and Stiftung Niedersachsen. Other notable works include Faust: A Mortal's Tale, a contemporary melodrama weaving spoken text with music from Franz Liszt to Radiohead, Paganini Variations and Betty Rettet die Volksbühne, created with actress Bettina Lamprecht. As curator, Ashley conceived Sound and Colour in Scriabin's Piano Sonatas, a 2017 European tour combining live performance with immersive projections of Australian opals.

Ashley has performed at the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Recital Centre, Bunka Kaikan Theatre Tokyo, Adrienne Arsht Center Miami and the 2022 World Expo Dubai, and at international festivals including the Canberra International Music Festival, Beethovenfest, Ultima, Gaudeamus Week, Schwetzinger Festspiele, Le Vivier Montreal and Port Fairy Spring Festival. His recordings include Faust: A Mortal's Tale (2021), Sleeping Orchards (2019) and Piano Rhapsody (Auster Records, 2012), alongside collaborations with ensembles Echohaus and Alpenglühen.

He holds a PhD from the University of Adelaide, is the first-prize winner at the International Gaudeamus Interpreters Competition (2005) and recipient of the Michael Kieran-Harvey Award (2008-2009). Ashley is a represented artist of the Australian Music Centre and gives regular seminars on contemporary music and improvisation.

Photo: Yoshi Toscani ©