Obituary of AMBER SANDER

On December 30, we lost a beautiful, fearless, fun and loving spirit when Amber Sander lost her valiant year-long battle with cancer. Amber was born December 28th, 1981 in Lubbock, TX. She is survived by the one love of her life, her husband, Jeremy Sander; her parents, Dean and Benita Smithson, grandmother, Mary Lu Smithson, father and mother-in-law, Larry and Margaret Sander, sister-in-law Melanie Fisher and husband Steven and niece and nephew Avianna and Kai; She is also survived by many adoring aunts, uncles, and cousins. She will also be missed deeply by many great friends, colleagues and students. Inspired by a sixth grade music teacher’s demonstration, Amber asked to take viola lessons and never looked back. She enjoyed playing in local youth symphony and a western swing band through her teens. Amber completed her undergraduate degree in Music Performance at Texas Tech University in 2004. She earned a Masters of Music Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2006 and in 2013 she completed her Doctor of Musical Arts Performance at the University of North Texas. Although she loved her career as a professional musician and teacher, Amber most treasured her personal life and time at home with her husband and dogs. She enjoyed spending time with friends and family and loved organizing fun get-togethers and outdoor adventures with those most important to her. Amber sustained an active performance schedule in the North Texas area over the past 12 years including regular performances with the Irving, Plano and Lewisville Lake Symphony Orchestras, multiple chamber music concerts and the annual ‘Gift of Christmas’ production at Prestonwood Baptist Church. She also enjoyed playing in multiple concert orchestras for various touring artists including: The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Josh Groban, Kanye West, Barry Manilow and The Eagles 2020 Hotel California concert tour in Dallas. She also maintained a private viola and violin studio through out her entire career. Amber’s passion for teaching led her to serve as Suzuki Specialist in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School district from 2015-2020. She truly identified with the Suzuki philosophy, which is to nurture and develop children’s character through the study of music. She was a member of the Suzuki Society of America where she presented and was published on a national level. Amber adored her students and expected them to work hard and demonstrate responsibility and that’s how she lived her life. Despite her illness, she was always a positive person bringing joy to others, laughing daily and finding one good thing to be thankful for every day! Her feisty attitude and determination will forever remain an inspiration to all who knew her. When you think of Amber, honor her memory by striving to be the best version of you that you can be: ever moving forward, always learning and always finding at least one good thing in your life to be thankful for every day. Per Amber’s wishes, her family invites loved ones and friends to join them in a celebration of her life on Saturday, March 26th, 2022, from 2-4 pm at the Mill Street House, 322 N. Mill Street, Lewisville, TX 75057. We’ll share our favorite stories about her, so come prepared with funny or uplifting stories. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to causes that were very important to her: Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD Suzuki Booster Club HEBISD Suzuki Booster Club PO Box 211883 Bedford, TX 76095 Please reference: In memory of Dr. Amber D Sander The City of Lewisville, TX Animal Shelter https://www.cityoflewisville.com/about-us/city-services/animal-services