University of New Hampshire

Wind Symphony
February 11, 2015
To Whom It May Concern:
I am very pleased to write a recommendation on behalf of Ashley Paradis for music
education positions at any level. I have known Ashley for the past six years and consider her to be
extremely intelligent, wonderfully engaging, highly talented, and overall a young conductor with
great potential for a terrific career. My contact with Ashley at the University of New Hampshire
has been as a clarinet player in the wind symphony, as a student in my conducting course, and
during two semesters in my advanced conducting course. In all cases, she was very successful
and I believe that she displays all of the characteristics necessary to thrive in this profession.
Ashley came into our program as part of a large and talented incoming clarinet class. She
has worked diligently over the years to improve her skills on her instrument and this dedication
has paid off. She finished her time in the wind symphony as the second chair in the section,
performing as principal clarinet on several works, including many of the compositions on our
most recent CD, The Music of Michael Annicchiarico. Ashleys present abilities as a performer
are a testament to her talent and work ethic, both of which should serve her well in your position.
In addition to her performance skills, I have had contact with Ashley as a member of my
conducting courses, and this has reinforced much of what I sensed in the wind symphony with
regard to her character. She was well prepared and extraordinarily musical in the conducting class
and her accomplishments in this two-semester course led me to invite her to take another two
semesters of advanced conducting with me. In the course of this class, I basically demand of
these students the same degree of preparation and performance that I ask of my graduate
conducting students. Ashley grew immensely during the advanced conducting course and is now
one of the two finest undergraduate conductors we have. She has strong baton technique, musical
left hand gestures, and a comfortable and confident podium presence. This combination of natural
musicality and highly motivated dedication to her art make her quite unique.
In addition to all of the above, Ashley has the absolute perfect personality for our
graduate program. She is kind, thoughtful, helpful, and easy-going. She is definitely well liked by
students, staff and faculty alike and she demonstrates all of the qualities necessary for success as
a music educator. I can envision Ashley eventually serving as one of the leading band directors in
the region. I highly recommend Ashley Paradis for your open music education position and would
be happy to speak with you personally regarding her abilities.
Sincerely,

Andrew Boysen, Director of Bands

Music Department, University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH 03824
(603) 862-2405
andrew.boysen@unh.edu