Orchestral Works

All In This Together

A Symphonic Celebration of the Earth and All Her Creatures!

Music by Candace Forest & Nancy Schimmel

Orchestrations by Jay Matthews

All In This Together is a high-spirited one-hour family concert for symphony orchestra featuring a children’s chorus and guest soloist in the guise of “Mother Earth.” With a lively, imaginative score by award-winning San Francisco Bay Area composer Candace “Candy” Forest and Nancy Schimmel, All In This Together deftly introduces family audiences to an exotic array of musical instruments and endangered species as Mother Earth invites the audience to join her, the orchestra and chorus for a “natural adventure.”

Skillfully orchestrated by Jay Matthews, All In This Together cleverly moves through a wide variety of musical styles including classical, folk, jazz, Broadway and vintage rock ‘n roll. It contains many opportunities to showcase particular orchestra members and instruments while introducing a few basic elements of symphonic music appreciation. The centerpiece of the program is the emotionally stirring orchestral work, Trilogy for the Endangered Species by Candace Forest. A visual presentation for portions of the program is available upon request.

All In This Together was premiered by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra with the Elementary and Junior Choirs of the Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts and Mary Stahl as Mother Earth on March 30, 2003. It received a repeat performance by the BPO in their Summer ArtPark series in July, 2004.

Please click on the audio files below for excerpts of each piece.