Heather Sorenson has built an international reputation as a composer and arranger working across both traditional and contemporary Christian music, often blending the two into a sound that feels entirely her own. Based in Dallas, her works appear in churches, universities, concert halls, and competition stages worldwide. Beyond her compositional output, Sorenson has shaped music education as an elementary music teacher, adjunct professor at Baylor University, and frequent clinician at worship conferences and universities across the country.
Her commissions span prestigious institutions including Texas A&M University, the Kennedy Memorial Foundation, and Carnegie Hall, where her oratorio EXODUS premiered. When not writing or traveling as a guest conductor and lecturer, Sorenson regularly directs benefit concerts for nonprofits close to her heart. This balance between serious compositional work and deep investment in music education informs everything she arranges.
Why we love this
Sorenson's arrangement honors the hymn's sturdy melodic foundation while adding harmonic warmth and contemporary voice leading that feels fresh without overwhelming the text. The piece respects what makes this hymn enduring (its accessibility and spiritual directness) while giving singers something genuinely engaging to perform. This is the kind of sacred choral work that strengthens both your choir's musicianship and the congregation's connection to worship.
What to expect
Warm and grounded, with harmonic color that feels thoughtfully chosen rather than embellished. There's an inviting quality to the voicing, something that draws singers into the text and invites listeners into genuine worship rather than performance.
Who it's for
Intermediate to advanced SATB choirs comfortable with four-part voice leading and looking to refresh their sacred repertoire. This arrangement works equally well in congregational settings where musicality matters and in choral festivals or concert programming where you want to pair tradition with contemporary arranging craft.
How to get the most out of it
Let the text shape your phrasing rather than fighting against the harmonic rhythm. This arrangement's strength comes from clarity in how the words land.
Balance the four voices so sopranos aren't driving the sound. Sorenson's writing distributes melodic interest across all parts, and the piece breathes better when each line has weight.
Find the spaces where harmonic movement creates natural momentum, then use stillness elsewhere. The arrangement asks for musical maturity in knowing when to press and when to rest.
How to use it
Slot this into a service or concert where you're building a program around hymn arrangements or sacred choral music. It pairs well with both traditional hymn settings and modern worship pieces, making it flexible for Easter, Pentecost, or any Sunday where congregational singing is central to your service or concert theme.
Skills your students will build
Balancing independent melodic lines in four-part writing
Phrasing text-driven music with attention to word placement
Reading and performing contemporary hymn arrangements
Understanding how harmonic color supports textual meaning
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