Dear School District Administrators and Human Resources,

I am writing this letter to recommend Sophia Rechel for a music teaching position within your school.
Sophia Rechel’s legacy as a music educator and clarinetist is only beginning, yet she has shown herself to
be an incredible musician, a notable private instructor, a passionate Outreach Band staff member, an
attentive student, a dedicated volunteer, an organized instrumental rental room student worker, and
already one of the most enthusiastic performers and young educators I have taught! Sophia is a senior,
double majoring in music education and clarinet performance here at the University of Arizona; she is a
dean’s list student, and truly a model of excellence in our music program. She is currently student
teaching, with a placement that encompasses: elementary general music/arts integration, elementary choir,
elementary band, elementary orchestra, middle school orchestra, and middle school guitar in Tucson
Unified School District.

I have worked closely with Sophia as her professor of “Careers in Music” and as her supervisor for the
past four years with the UA Outreach Honor Band, a weekly volunteer-based position where Sophia
teaches our middle school, low woodwind players. She is an incredible bass clarinetist and an equally
talented educator, motivating these middle school students to play their best. She impresses me with her
passion for music, her genuine interest in feedback and critiques for improvement, and her contagious
enthusiasm for life when she’s performing or teaching in front of students. I have watched Sophia grow
and excel within her courses, from teaching peer lessons to fellow college students, to excitedly telling me
about subbing with the Tucson Symphony on bass clarinet, to leading sectionals with young musicians.

Sophia seems to be a natural educator, coupled with musical talent and dedication to performance. She
possesses that magnetic spark that translates across diverse audiences, which is an unteachable
characteristic that I value when training future music teachers. She is also so enthusiastic about her future
career in music and applies my feedback for marketing, websites, recordings, and musical projects. As
part of this class, she created an elementary music teaching website where she posts ideas and lesson
plans.

In addition to working with Sophia academically and musically, I have also found her to be a humble,
easy-going, and hard-working professional. She is incredibly generous with her time and dedication, as
well. I am continually impressed with her ability to excel at academics while balancing a 3.6 GPA,
coaching in the UA Outreach Honor Band weekly, playing in many local ensembles, and being a loyal
student worker within the Fred Fox School of Music.

A great musician and promising young educator, I believe you would be proud to include Sophia Rechel
in your school music faculty. I am willing to offer more anecdotes and materials in support of Sophia
Rechel if they would be helpful, so please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Dr. Karin Nolan

Assistant Professor, Music Education
Fred Fox School of Music, The University of Arizona
PO Box 210004, Tucson, AZ 85721-0004
(520) 621-7470
knolan@email.arizona.edu