Getting to Know Rob Wildeboer
Last Sunday we were excited to introduce Rob Wildeboer as LaSalle’s new Artist-in-Residence and Coordinator of Music! Rob has played with our worship band for a few years now, and we’re thrilled to have him in the office helping with our worship in the coming season. We asked Rob to share a bit about himself in this Q&A — enjoy!
What is your role in leading Worship at LaSalle? What do you love most about doing this role/what's energizing about it?
I love playing music... I love gospel and jazz music and church music with a solid gospel or hip-hop beat. I love playing piano, bass and I love trumpet and I'm terrible at trumpet but trying to learn it and will probably look for opportunities to impose it on everyone from time to time.
What else do you do with your time - day job, past job, interests?
I spent 19 years working for WBEZ, the public radio station in Chicago. A year ago I quit to spend more time learning music and developing my skills. I currently take music classes and piano lessons and have been spending a lot of time practicing piano here at LaSalle so I don't drive my wife crazy playing music for several hours a day while she's working from home!
What can you tell us about your family? (names/ages, or whatever you want to share here.)
My wife is Christine. We met 29 years ago at school at Calvin College, now called Calvin University in Grand Rapids. She is an information architect at Northwestern University where she helps design the layout of the school's many web pages. Christine's parents live in Northwest Indiana (about 40 mins from downtown). She has a brother, Mark, who lives in Northbrook with his wife Susan. My parents live in a suburb of Toronto where I grew up. I'm the youngest of 5 kids. I have 13 nephews and nieces.
Who is one of your favorite singers, songwriters, or instrumentalists - and why?
Lee Morgan - He's a jazz trumpet player. I happened to buy a tape of his in high school because it was in the bargain bin at the Sam The Record Man downtown Toronto on New Year's Eve 1991. It was on heavy rotation on my sony walkman. His solos are accessible and singable and yet they have enough surprise to keep you interested and stretch your ear melodically.
What city/church did you grow up in?
I grew up in a denomination called The Christian Reformed Church or the CRC. My dad was the minister of the church and my mom was the organist. I often played drums so the music team was me and my mom playing hymns on organ and drums. It wasn't ideal.
What is one thing you want the LaSalle congregation to know about you - an interesting or fun fact, something surprising, or a creative genius you possess?
I like ping pong and pickleball so let me know if you want to play!