Julie I. Myers brings two decades of public school music teaching experience from Pennsylvania to her work as a lyricist and composer. Her graduate training at Westminster Choir College of Rider University (Composition) and West Chester University (Orff Schulwerk Certification, Levels I-III) grounds her understanding of how text and music serve young singers.
Myers has built a reputation as a collaborative lyricist, crafting texts for school and sacred choral works alongside established composers. Her writing appears in Highlights for Children, Music K-8, and Reader's Digest, and she maintains membership in Pennwriters, reflecting her commitment to both musical and literary excellence.
Why we love this
Clare Toy's arrangement captures the jubilant energy of this Easter text with accessible part writing that gives every voice a moment to shine. The two-page format makes it manageable for rehearsal while the hymn tune foundation means your singers can connect to something familiar even as they learn fresh harmonic colors.
What to expect
Bright and affirmative, this setting channels the triumph in its text through direct harmonic language and a hymn tune that feels both timeless and immediate. Singing it creates the sensation of joining a larger tradition while making a fresh declaration.
Who it's for
Church choirs preparing Easter services benefit most from this octavo, but school choirs performing seasonal concerts will also find it useful. The straightforward arranging and modest page count work well for ensembles with limited rehearsal time.
How to get the most out of it
Balance the text clarity with the harmonic progression. The words carry the message, so anchor your rehearsal in diction before you lock the chord voicings.
Consider the organ or piano accompaniment as a conversational partner, not a safety net. Once your choir knows their parts, pull back the accompaniment in places to let the singing space breathe.
Shape the final cadence without rushing. A moment of silence before the last chord lands gives the alleluias their full weight.
How to use it
Place this near the close of an Easter concert or service to send your audience out with confidence and joy. It also works as a stand-alone anthem for spring music festivals or as the capstone to a liturgical Holy Week presentation.
Skills your students will build
Harmonic awareness through layered hymn tune arrangement
Text expression and diction in sacred context
Balance and blend in four-part chorale writing
Sustaining tone quality on longer harmonic passages
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