Bob Mathews

When Bob Mathews was 5 years old, his parents took him to the National Old-Time Fiddler’s Contest in Weiser, Idaho. He remembers sitting in the seats and thinking that the music was the neatest thing that he had ever heard. When he was in the fourth grade, he thought he had died and gone to heaven when Rex Yocum came to his classroom, and asked, “who would like to play violin?” He brought the note home, and his mother asked his dad what they should do. His dad said, “Go buy him a violin!” Little did they know that they would be helping him with his chosen profession of teaching orchestra and fiddle.

Bob just finished his 36th year of teaching orchestra at East High and Carey Jr. High Schools in Cheyenne. The program has continually grown under Bob’s guidance. His orchestra has traveled to Washington, D.C., twice to Hawaii, and most recently to the Bahamas on a cruise ship - It was not an easy feat to get cellos across the ocean!

Bob has a very popular group that is a part of the orchestra. It is called the East High Strolling Strings. The Strolling Strings represented Wyoming in 2001 at the MENC, All-Northwest Convention in Spokane, Washington. They perform an additional 40+ performances a year for the community. They have had a float in the Frontier Days parade for the last 8 years. The Float has won an outstanding float award every year. Their favorite performance is for the VA hospital at Christmas time.

Bob loves to write original compositions and arrange music for his high school and junior high orchestras. His students love to play his music.

Bob loves all kinds of music, but his passion is fiddle. He has been the Wyoming All-State Old-Time Champion five times. He has won fanciest fiddling at the National Old-Time Contest at Weiser, twice. Bob has judged at the National Old-Time Contest and has been a judge at many local, state and regional contests. Bob will fiddle for anyone who will listen. His family’s group is called, “Fiddles on the Range”. He, his son Bobby and daughter, Lori, also play in a country western band, called “Country Club”.

Bob has an extra-class ham radio license – His call sign is K7FDL! On June 28, 2006, Bob proudly received his pilot’s license. He loves to fly almost as much as he loves to fiddle!! He is currently working on his instrument rating and will take the check-ride soon.

Bob has been married to his wife Debbie for 35 years. They have a son, Bobby who is married to Erica. They are the proud parents of five-year-old, Robert Mathews IV and Owen, who is 1. Their daughter, Lori is married to Aaron. They are the parents of six-year-old twin girls, Andra and Allie. All 4 Grandchildren have their own fiddle and love to play and sing with their Grandpa Bob!