9

January 2018
To Whom It May Concern:

It is my pleasure to write on behalf of Liesl Bryant as she applies for teaching positions in music education. I
have worked with Liesl since January 2015 when she entered the Masters Degree in Music Education with
teacher licensure component at Colorado State University. I knew right away that Liesl was an intelligent
and dedicated student who had studied music at the University of Puget Sound and wanted to return to
Colorado in order to complete her teacher licensure requirements in order to teach music in the public
schools. During her time at CSU, I had Liesl in classes as a student, worked with her as a graduate teaching
assistant, and watched her grow and develop significantly as an educator and person.

Liesl is a strong musician who participated in all levels of choral ensembles at CSU and took initiative to
continue developing her ability to play various instruments beyond the expectation for choral students. She
brings this musicianship to her teaching and conducting, sharing her passion for music and art with
students and members of her ensembles and classes.

Liesl has a passion for teaching and education that is infectious. She is comfortable in front of a classroom
or ensemble of students and excels at crafting lesson plans that promote various levels of depth within the
content area of music. She is well versed in the Colorado State Content Standards for Music and
educational philosophy, having demonstrated both in rigorous courses at the graduate as well as
undergraduate level.

I have watched Liesl grow and mature significantly during her time at CSU. She dealt with severe personal
and family tragedy during her studies, but completed her tasks with professionalism and décor. By the time
she graduated she demonstrated the teaching and musical skill and emotional maturity well beyond what
would normally be expected of a first-year teacher entering the profession.

I am proud to recommend Liesl for any teaching position that you may have within your district. She will
excel at any level of education, though I see her greatest strengths at the High School or Middle School
levels. Liesl brings significantly more experience than the typical first-year teacher and will quickly settle
into the school culture once she learns the intricacies of a particular school and district. I worked closely
with her as she led classes and units in choral music and general music education courses at CSU and have
full faith in her ability as a teacher. She is a native of the Boulder, Colorado area and brings a wealth of
experience and knowledge to her classroom. I expect her to become a leader in the profession very quickly.
Unfortunately, I was not able to see her walk at graduation since I accepted a position at another
university, but I’m happy to continue my association with her. Please feel free to contact me if you have
any further questions or need any additional information.

Ryan Olsen, DMA
Director of Choral Activities
Baker University
Ryan.Olsen@BakerU.edu
Rolsen128@gmail.com
913-522-2695