Award-winning coloratura soprano, Kirsten Ashley Wiest, is firmly committed to the evolution of classical vocal music. Her "bright, dazzling vocal technique" (San Diego Story) has captivated composers worldwide, resulting in over 80 world premiere performances including works by Veronika Krausas (CA/US), James Erber (UK), Gérard Pape (FR), Alba Potes (CO/US/IT), Jeffrey Holmes (US), and Grawemeyer Award-winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist Lei Liang (CN/US).

Kirsten has performed and recorded alongside numerous GRAMMY winners, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Bang on a Can All-Stars, Partch ensemble, and La Jolla Symphony and Chorus, among many others. She has performed at venues including Walt Disney Concert Hall (CA), REDCAT (CA), Aratani Japan America Theater (CA), Théâtre Le Palace (FR), Autonomous University of Baja California (MX), and the Moore Theater (WA). Kirsten has given recitals on concert series' hosted by Harvey Mudd College, Chapman University, Tuesdays@MONK Space, UC San Diego's WED@7, and others. She was a featured soloist in the LA Philharmonic’s season-long installation, Nimbus, and has recorded for several interactive operatic experiences and film scores. Her voice can be heard on recordings released by Sony Classical, Centaur Records, MicroFest Records, innova recordings, and Albany Records, among others.

Equally at home with music of the past, Kirsten has headlined as "Mabel" in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance and as "Polly Peachum" in Weill's ThreePenny Opera. She has appeared as soprano soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria, Mozart’s Coronation Mass in C Major, K.317, and Orff’s Carmina Burana.

Kirsten holds a DMA in Contemporary Music Performance in Voice from UC San Diego, MFA from California Institute of the Arts, and BM cum laude from Chapman University’s Conservatory of Music. Alongside performing, Kirsten teaches voice at San Bernardino Valley College and University of California Riverside.