Wilbert Rimper's Music Sharing Inc. Website

History

Born in the early 1950 on one of the 16,000 islands of Indonesia, I remember using water from the river for bathing and boiling the same water to remove impurities for drinking. We were surrounded by tropical vegetation which included scorpions, snakes and various wild lives.

In 1960, a Christian church sponsored our family to start a new life in The Netherlands, Europe. After two years of illnesses due to the extreme cold, we moved to San Mateo, California. Dad worked very very hard supporting us with two fulltime jobs.As a young boy, being pressured by boys in school, I was forced to join gangs and experimenting alcohol and marijuana, otherwise retaliations would have had severe consequences. My parents enrolled me at Cupertino High School. Because of no busing system yet, I walked to school for one hour before 1st period which started at 7:45AM. Every morning I heard wonderful music coming from the football field and a few rooms. Watching the Music Director Robert Gomez was such a joy, I was late to first period a few times. This of course led to detention after school. But watching Mr. Gomez made me feel a live and I was high on music. It was like I had eaten a case of oranges, what a fantastic feeling. I saw more than 80 students being conducted. They all started at the same time, played soft to very loud, slow to very fast, with emphasis on different notes and they all stopped together at the same time...Wow! I imagined a calm ocean and waves building, then large waves, and then it was still with no movement.I wanted so much to join the band. I went to Mr. Gomez who surprised me because he spoke with such enthusiasm in his voice and with eagerness to teach me music. I told him he already had so many musicians, maybe it would be too much to include me. He just said he was proud to be one of my teachers, and hoped I liked the music program. Mr. Gomez changed my life. He was and will always be my favorite teacher, counselor, mentor, my father of music and my friend. I am truly eternally in debt to Mr. Gomez for changing my life forever with the love of music he shared from his heart.

The band turned into three bands with approximately 300 members. Before school, during lunch time and after school the music building was full of 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th graders, practicing, eating lunch and talking about music or doing their homework.Mr. Gomez was such an inspiration to me and all his thousands of students , that I wanted to do something really special for him. I telephoned more than 400 students who graduated from Cupertino High School between 1967 -1989, and attended either Mr. Gomez's orchestra or symphonic, concert and jazz bands. I was successful in contacting 200 people from 12 states and 52 California cities. We got together once a month on three different occasions and I conducted four of Mr. Gomez's favorite music pieces and a special "tribute song" written especially for him by Paul Witt who is composing music for movies in Hollywood. The District Superintendent, High School Principal, Mrs. Gomez and 3 newspapers knew what was going to happen, but not Mr. Gomez. At the annual Cupertino High School Spring Concert after their intermission, we all walked into the gymnasium and surprised Mr. Gomez, our fearless leader, with a "heart warming concert". I handed him the baton and asked him if he would conduct us. Mr. Gomez was speechless with tears on his cheeks which I had never seen before. We all applauded loudly and told him we loved him. He took the baton and sheet music and filled not only the gymnasium and echoes throughout the schools hallways, but throughout the neighborhood with beautiful music.

After graduating from high school I earned music scholarships to San Francisco State University, San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Ecole de Musique de Paris, France. I lived, studied and performed music in Europe for 4 years.By GOD's Grace I was blessed to have played with Greg Smith of Chicago Symphony, David Breeden of San Francisco Symphony, Phillip Fath of San Francisco Opera and Guy Dangain and Roland Simoncini of Orchestre Nationale de France. I performed as principal clarinetist for President Richard Nixon and Governor Ronald Reagan. Also I supplied music for Bing Crosby and Tennessee Earnest Ford. I've been blessed to take music lessons from Rossario Mazzeo, Clement Hutchinson and David Glazer.I've learned to give and help all people, no matter how bad the situation, and expect nothing. I have learned what true life is by also working many years as a police officer in San Francisco. My day off would be helping teenagers who are in trouble with the criminal system. Instead of sports as an alternative to violence, I introduced music in their lives, to enable them to be creative and overcome various difficulties. They all found that it's nice to share their singing or playing music instruments with others.

Now after 40 years of studying, teaching and performing professionally with orchestras, bands, chamber ensembles and as featured soloist, I retired. I've founded 3 non-profit organizations, two are still very active.Facing death on job related situations and being admitted in the hospital for various illnesses has allowed me to have an intimate relationship with GOD. GOD, Pastors Ken Butler and Eldon Martens have changed me forever. I now use my life's experiences in music, to join with loving friends in our love of music. My goal for generations to come is to help preserve music to all people. I consider it a great honor and pleasure to "sharing music with others".