THE GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS

Old Dominion University. Norfolk VA 23529-0556

tel: (757) 451- 4711 fax: (757) 451- 4715
www.gsarts.net
The Governor's School for the Arts

Thursday, June 1,2017

To Whom It May Concern:

It is my pleasure to write this recommendation for Jared Robles, a senior at Salem High School in
Virginia Beach, Virginia, and The Governor's School for the Arts (GSA) in Norfolk, Virginia. GSA is a
regional arts high school where students are selected by very competitive auditions from 34 high schools
in 8 cities to study one of six disciplines: dance, instrumental music, vocal music, theater, visual art or
musical theater. Students take 4 hours of academic subjects in their local high school, then are bussed to
Norfolk to attend GSA 5 days a week for 3 hours daily from September to June for 3 academic credits to
receive high level, specialized training in their chosen art form. I have known Jared for 4 years, one year
as his private flute teacher in 9th grade and 3 years as his flute professor and flute choir and woodwind
quintet coach at GSA (lOth-12thgrade). I am also the former chair of the GSA instrumental music
department and current adjunct flute professor at Old Dominion University. Jared is a natural leader who
sets high standards for himself and inspires other students to give their best efforts with him.

Jared is principal flute ofthe GSA Orchestra and has played such repertoire as Stravinsky's Petrushka,
Scriabin Symphony #4 (Poem oj Ecstasy), Beethoven Symphony #8 and Lutoslawski Symphony #4. GSA
orchestra plays original versions, not transcriptions. In the Lutoslawski, Jared took the initiative to do his
own research this summer to understand this unusual notation and symbols to learn this difficult music.
He has played a large amount of woodwind quintet music and flute choir music and also plays piccolo
and alto flute. Jared has been selected to Southeastern Regional Orchestra (principal Flute), District 2
Band for 2 years, and Virginia All-State in 2016. He placed each year in Hampton Roads Flute Faire
from 2014 to 2017, including winning the senior high division in 2017. Jared is a very serious flute
student with a beautiful, warm tone quality and clean, precise technique. His lessons are always prepared
and he learns music quite fast. As the 2017 GSA Concerto Winner, he recently gave an outstanding
performance of the Frank Martin BalZade (college level repertoire) from memory with the GSA orchestra.
He is very reliable in performance situations and willing to play any position. He is an excellent music
theory student and a strong leader in orchestra and woodwind quintet. Jared is well liked and respected
by other GSA students and faculty. One faculty member invited him to perform out-of-town with her
accompanying him for a Talented Teen Recital last August. He listens to a large amount of music on his
own and is inquisitive and asks thoughtful, intelligent questions. His positive attitude and excellent work
ethic have taken him quite far in these 4 years and will continue to make him an effective and inspiring
teacher.

Jared is also an excellent academic student with a 3.9 GPA at Salem and GSA and strong SAT scores of
1430. He is organized and mature and ready for this next step in his life. His college plans are to double
major in music education and math, and I believe he will be a very successful teacher and performer.
Jared is an outstanding student both musically and academically and will be a real contribution to college
life wherever he chooses. I give him my strongest recommendation.

Sincerely,
ftC(};0 iJdriw,
Patti Watters
Adjunct Flute Professor, The Governor's School for the Arts
Adjunct Flute Professor, Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA 23527
pwatters@odu.edu; patti.r.watters@gmail.com; 757-589-6452
A Governor's School sponsored by the Virginia Department of Edu~ation
and the public school divisions of Chesapeake, Franklin, Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Southampton, Suffolk and Virginia Beach