March

28, 2016

To Whom It May Concern:

It is my great pleasure to have this opportunity to recommend the music performance and teaching abilities of
Samantha Grace. I have known and worked with Samantha for five years. During that time, I found her to be one of
my most talented and serious students.

Samantha is a fine and active musician. While at Alma Samantha has been the Principal Flute/Piccolo with the Alma
Symphony Orchestra, Wind and Percussion Consort, Kiltie Wind Ensemble, Kiltie Marching Band and Flute Choir. She
also played Alto Saxophone in the Alma Jazz Ensemble. Samantha spent a summer performing at the Bay View Music.
In addition, her senior recital was one of the highest quality.

Samantha has worked as a woodwind instructor for Blue Lake fine Arts Camp and many high school bands across the
State. In this capacity she has taught at band camps, ran sectionals and taught private lessons. I have always heard
good things about her teaching. Many directors have commented positively on her musical knowledge, teaching skills,
ability to develop an appropriate rapport with students and her tireless attention to detail.

Samantha has wonderful people skills and is highly motivated to excel at any task she undertakes. As a result I chose
her to be the flute and piccolo section leader of the Kiltie Marching Band for three seasons and drum major for this
past season. Her responsibilities included conducting the band, organizing and directing sectionals outside of the
band class as well as assisting with drill instruction during class. Her leadership abilities are outstanding and her
section of peers responded accordingly and as a result was one of the finest sections in the band. As principal flutist in
the Wind Ensemble and the Consort she had similar sectional responsibilities and again her section is working at their
peak to perform the music presented in rehearsal. I might also mention that she taught my daughter flute lessons. My
daughter always looked forward to each lesson and has really flourished on the instrument.

Samantha is currently student teaching in the Greenville Public Schools and I have heard glowing reports of her work.
While there she has been given many serious assignments with a high degree of responsibility, which she handled
with aplomb. I anticipate her professional teaching career will be a great success.

Samantha Grace is an extremely dedicated teacher, musician and student. She is a self-motivated individual who
accepts each new task with energy and sees it through to proper completion. Her moral character and compassion are
of the highest order. Samantha is a brilliant young woman in every respect and I give her my highest
recommendation.

Sincerely,

David Zerbe
Paul Cameron Russell Assistant Professor of Music
Director of Bands and Percussion Studies
Alma College
614 W. Superior
Alma. MI 48801
zerbe@alma.edu
(989) 463-7213