I was three years out of grad school when the 1986 Ninth Organ-Playing Competition of the Ruth and Clarence Mader Foundation was announced. The required repertoire was intriguing — all music from the 20th century. All competitors were to learn the new Sonata en trio by Jean Guillou, one of the most technically-demanding works I have every learned. And then there were three other groupings of pieces, from which the competitors could choose the rest of their repertoire. I remember learning the pieces for a May 1986 faculty recital at Occidental College. With pieces from that recording, I entered the preliminary round of the competition. That fall, as the final competition drew near, Cherry Rhodes and I talked and came to the prudent conclusion that it would be advantageous for me to have a few coaching sessions with her. The final competition had three finalists perform the repertoire as a formal evening concert at Pasadena Presbyterian Church. It was thrilling to be named First Place Winner.