May3,2016

ToWhomItMayConcern:

IhavehadtheprivilegeofaccompanyingHunterO'Brienforsevenyears.Throughoutthattime,Ihavewatchedhimgrow
physically,sociallyandmusically.ItisanhonortowritealetterofrecommendationforHunterknowingthathishardwork
andethicshaveearnedhimeveryaccomplishmentthathehasachievedalongwiththeexpectationthathisanamazing
futureaheadofhim.

AsaformermusiceducatoratShepherdMiddleSchoolandHighSchool,Ienjoyedworkingwithstudentswhowereself
motivatingandgoaldriven.ThatdescribesHunter.Hunterstartedprivateflutelessonsinmiddleschoolandstudied
variousteachersincludingClaudeLemmer,theformerbanddirectoratShepherdPublicSchoolsandDr.JoannaCowan
WhitefromCentralMichiganUniversity.HisCMUconnectionhasallowedhimtoattendmasterclasseswhichallowed
himtoobserveJeffereyZook(DSO),andperformforSharonSparrow(DSO),TessMiller(FluteprofessoratAlma
College),ConnorNelson(FluteprofessoratBGSUandrenownedsoloist),JudithMendenhall(Principalfluteofthe
AmericanBalletTheaterandfluteprofessoratMannes),NancyStagnitta(InstructoroffluteattheInterlochenArts
Academy),PaulaRobison(WorldrenownedsoloistandfluteprofessorattheNewEnglandConservatory,previousflute
professoratJuilliard)

ThisattentiontoprivatestudyallowedHuntertoearn14SuperiorIratingsatDistrictSoloandEnsembleFestival,9
SuperiorIratingsatStateSoloandEnsembleFestival,beaMichiganYouthArtsFestivalConcertoCompetitionWinner
andperformavariousconcertswiththeMichiganYouthArtsFestivalOrchestraandBand.AsIaccompaniedhim,Iwas
impressedwithHunter'sinnatemusicalinterpretationsanddepthofsoul.Itwasajoytomakegorgeousmusictogether,
givingthelistenersagiftbeyondmeasure!

th
th
Hunterhasnotbeenrestrictedtoflute,healsoplayedpiccolosince9
gradewithShepherdHighSchoolbandandin8

gradehestartedelectricanduprightbasswhichallowedhimtoperformwithShepherdJJazzforfiveyears.Hunterhas
th
beenamemberoftheFlutiqueProfessionalFluteChoir,CMUHonorsBandandTVCHonorsBandsince9
grade.Hehas
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alsobeenamemberofCentralMichiganAreaConcertBandsince8
grade.

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TheShepherdBandprogramhasawardedHunterMostOutstandingBandStudenttwice,MostMusicalAwardin11
grade

andgivenhimopportunitiestositPrincipalfluteformanyMSBOAAllStarandAllStateBandandOrchestras.
HewasaFlutistintheSaginawBayYouthOrchestrafromJanuarytoMarch2015,firstfluteoftheCMUSummerMusic
th
InstituteFluteChoirin10thgrade,afeaturedsoloistoftheCentralMichiganAreaConcertBand10th/11
grades,a

SoutheastMichiganFluteAssociationHighSchoolYoungArtistCompetitionWinnerin11thgrade,wontheSaginawBay
SymphonyOrchestra'sYoungMusicianoftheYearCompetitionWinnerin11thgradewhichallowedhimtoperformata
SaginawBayOrchestraConcert,receivingalongstandingovation.HunterperformedatLansing'sStateCapitolforthe
MusicEducationsAdvocacyDayGlassFloorPerformer,wasaMTNASeniorWoodwindMichiganCompetitionWinner,
aMTNASeniorWoodwindEastCentralDivisionCompetitionWinnerandaMTNASeniorWoodwindNational
CompetitionSecondPlaceWinner,allinhis12thgrade

SummersarenottimeoffforHunter.Thesummerof2016,HunterattendedInterlochenCenterfortheArtswherehewas
namedFrederickFennellScholarbytheInterlochenCenterfortheArtswasPrincipalfluteoftheWorldYouthWind
Symphonyforsixweeksafterwinningallthreeliveauditionswasplacedinthetopwoodwindquintetwhichperformedon
theHonorsChamberRecitalthecomposerforum,recordedthreetimesatInterlochenPublicRadiopremieredfour
woodwindquintetsandplayedattheartgalleryopeningnightandwasrecipientoftheFineArtsAwardinflutebasedon
outstandingcitizenshipandcommitmentanddedicationtohisartform.

Intheareaofacademics,Hunterhasexcelledaswell.HehasreceivedallAsthroughouthighschool,graduating4thinHis
class.HereceivedacademicawardsinEconomics,Biology,Spanish1,BusinessTechnology,andAdvancedChemistry.In
December2015,HunterwasStudentoftheMonth.HereceivedtheAmericanChemicalSocietyawardinadvanced
chemistrywhichisonlygivento1ShepherdHighSchoolstudentperyear.Hunterwasalsoa2yearmemberofNational
HonorSociety,ClassCouncilPresidentin9thgradeandamemberofBuisnessProfessionalsofAmericafor2years.

IamsoimpressedwiththislistallofHunter'saccomplishments.PleaseacceptmyhighestrecommendationforHunter.
Hismusicalabilities,workethics,moralsandhispersonaldemeanorarethebestofanystudentthatIhaveworkedwith
(morethan40yearsofteaching).HeisanexceptionalyoungmanandIseegreatthingsinhisfuture!

Musicallyyours,

KayePeasley
746S.ShepherdRd,MtPleasant,MI48858
Cell989.506.1414
Emailkaye.peasley@gmail.com