Robert Waldrop -------------- I am Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri. I was born and raised in Oklahoma, and that is where I first studied music. I began piano lessons at age six with my Aunt, Carol Rae (Waldrop) Perry, who is one of those unsung heroines of the world of music. Frederick, Oklahoma, has all of 6,000 people in it but I believe she is working on her third generation of students. At age twelve I started organ studies with Mary Gilliland, organist at the Methodist Church. I studied with Dr. Darwin Wolford of Idaho for a year in the 1970s, and with Dr. Antone Godding of Oklahoma City for two years in the 1990s. I was a "part-time" musician for most of my life, but four years ago I went back to school, earning a B.A. in philosophy and religion and "almost a BA in music" (couldn't finish them both at the same time), while working full time (with a part-time salary) at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Oklahoma City, which is predominately an African American congregation. We had a three manual Rogers electronic, which had formerly been in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Oklahome City. The music program of that small parish (350 families) was quite eclectic, our repertoire included works in English, Latin, French, and several African languages, and ranged from African-American gospel to traditional and modern contemporary. During Advent 1996, I was invited as a recitalist at the Oklahoma City Cathedral, as part of the celebration of the installation of their new pipe organ. I had had the opportunity to go up and watch the instrument being installed (which for me was a first) and even got to help hand some of the pipes up to the installers. It was quite an experience to enter the Cathedral, and see an entire disassembled pipe organ spread all about, and then watch it all get put together in only three days. My current job is full-time (with a real salary and benefits!), and involves supervising the music program -- four weekend masses, three choirs, and 180+ volunteer eucharistic ministers, lectors, cantors, organists, and choir directors. The organ is a nicely voiced Allen electronic. My musical interests are very eclectic, all the way from the Grateful Dead to Bach, with most points "in between". I am interested in expanding my expertise in jazz and blues, and am particularly curious about blues improvisation and the organ.