Ann's Letter of Recommendation
Leland and Gray Union High School
PO Box 128 On the Common Townshend, Vermont 05353
(802) 365-7355
February 1, 2006
To whom it may concern:
It is a pleasure to write on behalf of Michelle Dolan, whom I've known for
several years as a student, as a performer, and as a collaborator in
Journey East 2005.
As a student, Michelle is very bright, unassuming--and top notch. She
grasps literature in depth and analyzes it well. Her contributions
to discussions are astute--especially as she draws on a broad knowldge of
mythology, the Bible, science fiction and other literatures that most
students today don't know as well. She has a keen interest in Egyptology,
which makes sense, given her intellectual explorations of various cultures
and modes of thought. She has studied Chinese language on her own after
school; she reads in this vein enthusiastically; she seizes the chance to
learn--in any mode she can.
Michelle carries the same quest for understanding through her writing
which is thoughtful, detailed and analytical.
As a performer, Michelle has been shy, but eager to stick her neck out.
In fact, she's been involved in seven productions at Leland and Gray over the last
four years and in the process, she's been Greek chorus, a Greaser, a
comedian, a singer, a dancer--and more. In each experience, it seems,
she's grown and discovered.
Last January I began work with Michelle in Journey East 2005, an Asian
studies program and Sino-American cultural exchange in which she was one
of 25 participants chosen out of 50 applicants. Founded at Leland and
Gray, the program involves semester-long study of Chinese culture, history
and geography; basics of Chinese language and Asian literature, which she
took with me. As we read a range of texts from Sanskrit drama to Taoist
verse to the more accessible Siddhartha, Michelle found connections,
relevance and fresh interpretations. For the performance aspect of Journey
East, students were enrolled in chorus for vocal training and in
production workshop, a daily hour-and-a-half class in which we
collectively created the music-theatre piece to perform during the month
of April in China. The production focused on rock and roll and its spirit
and place as a uniquely American art form. Michelle was key in the
development of that piece. A 90-minute show, we performed it eight times
throughout the month of touring and learning abroad and to over 8,000
people. Every venue was different; each required the utmost flexibility.
We would arrive at a site a hour or so before curtain and we’d have to
quickly adapt to technological and acoustical limitations of any given
space. Michelle earned an A+ then in creative problem solving. Even in
the oddest and most challenging of conditions, she performed with aplomb.
Perhaps even more important, she was a quiet but willing ensemble member
--always willing to pitch in.
Michelle thrived in Journey East soaking it all in and never missing a
lesson, of which there were so many, especially as we traveled China
encountering new challenges and cultural idiosyncrasies at every turn in
the road.
Michelle has been a strong soccer player on our school's varsity and JV
teams; she's served on student council and the school spirit week
committee and she's voluteered for a local Hurricane Katrina relief
effort. Michelle's an individual--and not afraid to be one. While
others may bend to conform to styles, Michelle is setting her own. At the
core, she is a wonderful young woman: intriguing, bright, sensitive,
aware, and always eager to be part of a growing and learning community. I
highly recommend her for admission.
Sincerely,
Ann C. Landenberger
English tecaher
Journey East artistic director
Theater director
PO Box 128 On the Common Townshend, Vermont 05353
(802) 365-7355
February 1, 2006
To whom it may concern:
It is a pleasure to write on behalf of Michelle Dolan, whom I've known for
several years as a student, as a performer, and as a collaborator in
Journey East 2005.
As a student, Michelle is very bright, unassuming--and top notch. She
grasps literature in depth and analyzes it well. Her contributions
to discussions are astute--especially as she draws on a broad knowldge of
mythology, the Bible, science fiction and other literatures that most
students today don't know as well. She has a keen interest in Egyptology,
which makes sense, given her intellectual explorations of various cultures
and modes of thought. She has studied Chinese language on her own after
school; she reads in this vein enthusiastically; she seizes the chance to
learn--in any mode she can.
Michelle carries the same quest for understanding through her writing
which is thoughtful, detailed and analytical.
As a performer, Michelle has been shy, but eager to stick her neck out.
In fact, she's been involved in seven productions at Leland and Gray over the last
four years and in the process, she's been Greek chorus, a Greaser, a
comedian, a singer, a dancer--and more. In each experience, it seems,
she's grown and discovered.
Last January I began work with Michelle in Journey East 2005, an Asian
studies program and Sino-American cultural exchange in which she was one
of 25 participants chosen out of 50 applicants. Founded at Leland and
Gray, the program involves semester-long study of Chinese culture, history
and geography; basics of Chinese language and Asian literature, which she
took with me. As we read a range of texts from Sanskrit drama to Taoist
verse to the more accessible Siddhartha, Michelle found connections,
relevance and fresh interpretations. For the performance aspect of Journey
East, students were enrolled in chorus for vocal training and in
production workshop, a daily hour-and-a-half class in which we
collectively created the music-theatre piece to perform during the month
of April in China. The production focused on rock and roll and its spirit
and place as a uniquely American art form. Michelle was key in the
development of that piece. A 90-minute show, we performed it eight times
throughout the month of touring and learning abroad and to over 8,000
people. Every venue was different; each required the utmost flexibility.
We would arrive at a site a hour or so before curtain and we’d have to
quickly adapt to technological and acoustical limitations of any given
space. Michelle earned an A+ then in creative problem solving. Even in
the oddest and most challenging of conditions, she performed with aplomb.
Perhaps even more important, she was a quiet but willing ensemble member
--always willing to pitch in.
Michelle thrived in Journey East soaking it all in and never missing a
lesson, of which there were so many, especially as we traveled China
encountering new challenges and cultural idiosyncrasies at every turn in
the road.
Michelle has been a strong soccer player on our school's varsity and JV
teams; she's served on student council and the school spirit week
committee and she's voluteered for a local Hurricane Katrina relief
effort. Michelle's an individual--and not afraid to be one. While
others may bend to conform to styles, Michelle is setting her own. At the
core, she is a wonderful young woman: intriguing, bright, sensitive,
aware, and always eager to be part of a growing and learning community. I
highly recommend her for admission.
Sincerely,
Ann C. Landenberger
English tecaher
Journey East artistic director
Theater director