SHOWTIMES: 6:30PM AND 8:30PM. Dallas, Texas-based Ashleigh Smith is a gifted jazz and R&B vocalist who first came to prominence as the winner of the 2014 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Born in LaGrange, Georgia, Smith was interested in music from a young age, encouraged to sing by her mother (a physical therapist) and father (a former band director). By her teens, she was a dedicated performer influenced by her love of jazz artists like Ella Fitzgeraldas well as classic R&B icons like Stevie Wonder and Prince. After high school, she earned a full-ride scholarship to study classical music at Georgia’s Columbus State University. However, after attending a jazz camp at the University of North Texas, she transferred to the esteemed jazz institution. After earning her undergraduate degree, Smith spent several years working as a backup vocalist for pop and soul artist Chrisette Michele. In 2012, she competed in the inaugural year of the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition and ultimately finished in second place. Undeterred, she returned to the competition in 2014 and won, taking home $5,000 and a recording contract with Concord Records.