Ralph Alessi

382 Butler St #3
Brooklyn, NY 1121 7
718-857-3717
RalphAlessi@gmail.com
June 24, 2015

USCIS
Vermont Service Center
75 Lower Welden Street
St. Albans, VT 05479
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am writing in support of Dayeon Seok's application for O-1 Artist Visa status in the
United States.
I am on the Jazz faculty at New York University, New England Conservatory and the
founder and director of the School for Improvisational Music (SIM) program, which is a
non-profit entity currently holding improvisational music workshops in New York City
and abroad. I have collaborated with such notable musicians, such as, Steve Coleman,
Jason Moran, Don Byron, Ravi Coltrane, Fred Hersch, Uri Cane, Dan Weiss, Russ
Lossing, Drew Gress, Kris Davis, Tom Rainey and Nasheet Waits.
I have known Ms. Seok for three years. I first met her as a student of mine at New York
University and then as a drummer, establishing herself in her profession. Not only Ms.
Seok holds a rare gift of musicality, a wonderfully enriched full sound of drums and
cymbals, a type that has unique approach to the music; but she is an extremely affecting
performer with a powerful stage presence and ability to communicate and connect with
her audience in a remarkable and memorable way.
The first time I heard Ms. Seok's play, I knew I was hearing a rare and unusual talent,
and by subsequent work with her underlined that impression. In order for her natural gifts
to come to the peak of their development, it is imperative that she continues to be able to
have the best professional advice so that she would be able to grow into well-known
musician and be more exposed to Jazz, here in United States, rather than in South Korea.
I will never forget Ms. Seok's music and her composition for her performance at School
for Improvisational Music concert. She beautifully wrote and improvised with such
sensitive touch, that I and many of the audience members could not resist to draw our
ears. This is an artist of rare gift. As an individual, Ms. Seok is always kind, sincere, and
gracious to her colleagues. She's reliable on the stage and also a pleasure with whom to
work with.

I strongly consider Ms. Seok, as an individual of an extraordinary ability of the highest

quality in her field and it is my personal belief that her contributions is of the utmost
importance+to the Jazz music scene in the United States.
Sincerely,

Ralph Alessi
New York University
New England Conservatory
School for Improvisational Music+