This book was written for people who delight in the imaginative, who yearn to understand the creative spirit, who appreciate the craftsmanship that produces a work of art. The story of how a pipe organ is designed and constructed is intriguing to begin with; but, the visual impact of the Walt Disney Concert Hall organ excites the curiosity. Just looking at the towering wooden pipes is enough to make one wonder how it was ever conceived and built.

When I first saw photographs of this unique instrument, many questions came to mind: Who dreamed up this unorthodox design? Does it sound like a traditional pipe organ? How did they create something so complex? How many other pipes are hiding behind the ones in front? Then I heard it! It was magnificent. I had to know more about how this organ came to be. So, as a musician and an author, I pursued the facts ˆ first to satisfy my own curiosity, but then to share it with others.

I wanted to describe this work of art through the eyes of those who created it and used it. So I went to the architect, Frank Gehry; to the tonal designer, Manuel Rosales; to the builder, Glatter-Götz Orgelbau. I talked with associates and assistants, and I probed the minds of artisans and musicians. The thoughts, the words, the insights of all these people provide the substance of this book. It was written to honor their contribution to the world of music.

Jennifer also spent many years as an educator in elementary and secondary schools. For eight years she was a specialist in the Gifted and Talented Education program. While her own children were in high school, she worked diligently as a band parent, making presentations to the local city council and school board which resulted in a grant of $100,000 for new band instruments! She is now retired and able to devote herself to writing projects once again.The author also plays piano and organ. She studied organ in the early 1960's while at UCLA, playing the Royce Hall 1930 Skinner pipe organ with its 5 manuals and 104 ranks, before it was updated with solid-state equipment in 1982. She is currently Dean of the Ventura County Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and also a member of the Organ Historical Society.

Her favorite pastimes are playing music, listening to music, reading books, kayaking, and traveling. Jennifer especially enjoyed her trips to China (with a group of educators), to Africa (as a tourist) and to Australia (to visit relatives). She lives in Oxnard, California, with her husband of forty-six years ˆ a fellow musician and organist. They have two grown children, and four grandchildren.

Since the early 1900's, members of the Zobelein family have given their support to classical music in Los Angeles. Jennifer is pleased to continue that tradition by writing this book about the Walt Disney Concert Hall pipe organ.