13 (Choral Highlights From The Broadway Musical) (arr. Roger Emerson): 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo

Emerson's gift here is preserving what audiences love about 13 while actually letting your singers feel successful. These 13 highlights avoid the trap of oversimplifying; the three-part writing creates genuine harmonic color without burying the melodies your students came to sing.

Stepping into the world of 13 means exploring youth identity, friendship, and all the emotional turbulence that comes with it. Emerson's settings capture that energy without losing the intimacy of the original score; you get the pop sensibility alongside moments of real vulnerability.

Directors working with developing singers who need music that balances approachability with genuine sophistication. This collection works equally well for middle school choirs ready to tackle contemporary material or high school groups seeking a cohesive concert program centered on a single musical.

• Extract the rhythmic precision of the original pop grooves by rehearsing sections without the recorded accompaniment first, letting singers own the pulse before layering it back in.
• Pay particular attention to the lyrical moments where Broadway storytelling takes over; these benefit from rehearsal work focused on character and emotional clarity rather than technical drilling.
• The variety across 13 numbers means your singers will encounter different tessituras and textures. Plan rehearsals in clusters of similar voicing challenges to build confidence before stitching the full program together.

Consider programming this as a thematic concert or festival entry when you want to showcase your choir's range in contemporary vocal music. The full collection also works as a semester-long focus where you can rotate highlight performances throughout the year, keeping rehearsal energy fresh while building cumulative mastery.

• Phrasing in contemporary pop idioms
• Singing in three-part mixed voicing with independent harmonic lines
• Rhythmic flexibility across contrasting grooves and styles
• Connecting lyrical expression to character development
• Balancing unison melody statements with supportive harmonic textures