All That We Are

All That We Are was written by Carol Brittin Chambers (see below) in 2025.

From the composer:

“All That We Are was commissioned by Perform America – TX, LLC for the Coppell High School Wind Symphony, Kim Shuttlesworth, director for the 2023 Midwest Clinic, in honor and loving memory of Scott Mason. According to his friends, Sally and Jon Bohis, Scott Mason was a uniquely gifted man. He believed so deeply in the power of music. His dedication to teaching and empowering children was a lifelong endeavor. He started his teaching career in Snyder, TX, in 1980. He then moved to Crane, TX, where he had a 3A honor band in 1991. Scott moved to Coppell, TX, and built the foundation for the incredible band programs in Coppell ISD. He was relentless in his desire to bring excellence to all levels, and in all areas of performance. Coppell won the 4A state marching contest in the 1999-2000 school year.

Coppell also won the 4A honor band title in 1998. Under Scott’s direction, the Coppell band earned numerous high honors and awards. The individual students under his direction won many awards as well. Scott would say his success was directly due to surrounding himself with the most talented teachers he could find and then encouraging them to give their best efforts all of the time.

Scott loved classical music. However, his heart was truly moved by church music. Scott was a man of strong faith. He understood that music is not only the universal language, but music allows us to transcend the mundane. He felt music was a pathway to achieving our dreams.

All That We Are is mostly inspired by the hymn, ‘Great Is Thy Faithfulness’ (Scott’s favorite hymn). However, I also learned that one of Scott’s favorite concert works was ‘Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral’, which then influenced my choice of woodwind colors and scoring for the opening phrase.

Throughout the writing process, I continuously ruminated about Scott’s dedication to his band program and to the profession in general, and his commitment to serious, mature literature. So, in addition to simply creating a ‘pretty tune’, I tried to incorporate powerful and emotional moments as well. The ending is meant to portray a final feeling of rest and peace.”

Composer Carol Brittin Chambers (b. 1970) received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Texas Tech University and a Master of Music degree in trumpet performance from Northwestern University. She studied under Vincent Cichowicz, Will Strieder, John Paynter, Arnold Jacobs, and James Sudduth.

She is on the music faculty at Texas Lutheran University, teaching composition and serving as Composer in Residence. Before coming to TLU, Chambers taught band for many years in the North East Independent School District, in San Antonio, Texas. She was an assistant band director at Ed White Middle School, Lee High School, and Bush Middle School.

Chambers is the composer and owner of Aspenwood Music, LLC. She is commissioned each year to compose and arrange works for concert band, marching band, orchestra, and various other ensembles. Her concert works have been selected to the J.W. Pepper Editor’s Choice List and the Bandworld Top 100 and have been performed at state educator conferences across the country, including the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. She has arranged and orchestrated marching shows for numerous high school and college bands across the country, as well as The Crossmen Drum Corps.

Ms. Chambers was named the winner of the 2019 WBDI (Women Band Directors International) Composition Competition.

The music for All That We Are was provided for the band by Dewey, the service dog.