Grandfather Camp: An Orchestral Fantasy

SONOS Chamber Orchestra is proud to announce a new project inspired by and honoring the late Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer.  Dr. Ruth wanted to celebrate and stress the importance and value of grandparenting: The grandparent-grandchild bond is special and precious; it needs to be recognized, understood, valued and nurtured!

The program will be approximately 45 minutes long and is a hybrid theater/orchestra piece. This designed to speak to children of all ages. Featuring 3 actors: (1) Naomi, a 9-year-old girl, (2) her recently widowed grandfather, and (3) the magical Matrika, a quasi-mythic “Grandmother-to-the-World.” The orchestra is an essential fourth character, a constant presence, playing almost wall-to-wall.  The project will culminate with a recording, as well as an illustrated book.

A young girl was dropped off at her grandfather’s house and she is not entirely delighted to be there.  Based on the writings of Dr. Ruth, Matrika appears and pulls different styles of grandfathers out of her bag of tricks to show to the young girl!

The idea is to celebrate grandparenting!  The idea of “adoptive grandparents” is raised and proclaims the value of grandparenting for all parties involved, young and old.  Becoming “adoptive grandparents” allows people to provide emotional and intellectual support – not a legal adoption, but providing the interest, care, and support that a grandparent would ideally provide.

Dr. Ruth, (aka “Grandmother to the World”), and SONOS Chamber Orchestra have commissioned singer/songwriter Tom Chapin and songwriter/humorist performer John Forster to create this new concert experience which will take the listeners on an emotional journey.

Executive Producer Erik Ochsner will conduct his SONOS Chamber Orchestra (a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization).

This concert program harnesses the almost limitless emotional power of a full orchestra to dramatize the grandparent-grandchild relationship, in all its complicated glory.

New songs have been composed, new lyrics have been added to existing songs, and known melodies of classical music accompany this 45 minute long “radio show”/pantomime.  Don’t forget to bring your sense of humor!

In addition to the concert/recording/book project, Dr. Ruth decided that she wanted a jingle! We partnered with and have recently donated a Public Service Announcement (PSA) video to the New York City Department for the Aging!

We’d love for you to hear where we already are on this journey!  On page, you can hear:

• The completed Public Service Announcement (PSA)
• The show’s opening number entitled “Grandfather Camp”