She was well-known as a consummate organist. Their relationship was characterized as “ an inspiring musical companionship.” For ten years they had charge of the music in the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Jewish Temple Ohabai Sholom simultaneously. John and Emma worked together leading choirs of several of the largest churches in Nashville. Ashford publicly with the following remarks: “ As long as men love the beautiful in music, so long will your name live and be cherished by Vanderbilt men and women.” After another memorable performance of the Ode in 1926, Chancellor James Kirkland complimented Mrs. The performance of the Ode was rendered by a chorus of eighty voices and an orchestra of twenty-five performers. Ashford was asked to compose an Ode whose words were written by Olin Dantzler Wannamaker. In 1900 the Vanderbilt University celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary. Dean Herbert Tolman said of her: “ Of the women of our city, some have distinguished themselves in literature and some in art, but in the realm of musical composition, there is one name that stands pre-eminent. Emma was also well regarded at Vanderbilt, having contributed a significant number of musical compositions honoring the university, and for its Glee Club. He was organizer and first director of the Vanderbilt Glee Club. Never leaving his own passion for music behind, John was active as a choral director and singer. He submitted his resignation to the Board of Trustees at age 82, apparently much to their regret. He also held the position of Superintendent of Grounds for Vanderbilt University. John Ashford was connected with Vanderbilt University for 42 years. There they remained, living at their house on the Vanderbilt campus, and in their last years in a new home near the campus, at 2105 Dixie Place. Not long after their marriage, they settled in Nashville, as John secured a faculty position in Vanderbilt University’s Engineering department. Emma considered the year she spent under the guidance of Professor Buck to be her most significant and influential for her musical development. He offered Emma the Alto part over twenty-seven other applicants. Initially, they moved to Chicago, and while there, Emma held the position of Alto in the solo quartet under the direction of Organist, Choirmaster, and composer, Professor Dudley Buck, at St. On December 24, 1867, John Ashford married Emma Louise Hindle in St. Captivated by Emma’s musical genius, John encouraged and inspired her musical development and work. Paul’s Church. It was later at one of the musical events in Connecticut where she met John Ashford, a native of Bath, England, and a young Mechanical Engineer and accomplished amateur Tenor. This was her first experience in playing the pipe organ, and after a year’s service resigned to take a larger organ at an advanced salary. While in Seymour she studied the piano with Mrs. The family moved two years later to Seymour, Connecticut, and Emma was engaged as organist at St. Here her guitar playing created quite an interest and she taught a class of young ladies, and also sang in a choir. When fourteen years of age, she moved with her parents to Ballard Vale/ Plymouth, Massachusetts. John’s Episcopal Church in Kewanee, Illinois. By the age of twelve, she was organist at St. By this time she was a good performer on the piano and organ. When she was ten years old a guitar was presented to her, with which within a few weeks she could play the accompaniments to the songs she sang. At eight, she was singing alto in her Episcopal Church choir, and was acknowledged to be the best sight reader in it. Emma could sing from childhood, even before she could speak plainly. She was brought up in a musical atmosphere and her talents quickly developed. Her mother possessed a beautiful soprano voice. Her father James was a singing teacher and farm laborer. Emma Louise Ashford was born on Main Newark, Delaware to Elizabeth and James Hindle.