Choral Medley from West Side Story (arr. William Stickles): SATB Choral Octavo

William Stickles has distilled West Side Story's most powerful moments into a medley that captures the show's emotional arc without requiring a solo-heavy lineup. The arrangement respects the original material while making it genuinely singable for school and community choirs, preserving the sophistication of Bernstein and Sondheim's writing while acknowledging real ensemble capabilities.

The raw emotional urgency of West Side Story pulses through this medley. Bernstein's soaring melodies collide with driving rhythms and unexpected harmonic turns, capturing both the romance and the tragedy at the heart of the story. Singing these familiar melodies as an ensemble gives performers a chance to inhabit some of musical theater's most iconic moments.

Intermediate to advanced SATB choirs ready to tackle Broadway repertoire with harmonic and rhythmic sophistication. This works for high school show choirs, college ensembles, and community groups with singers who have solid music reading skills and some experience with jazz inflections.

• Approach the jazz harmonies with clarity; these voicings demand precise intonation from each section, especially in chromatic passages where pitches sit close together.
• Let the rhythm drive the storytelling rather than getting bogged down in individual phrases. Bernstein's syncopations should feel propulsive, not labored.
• Study recordings of the original cast to understand phrasing conventions, but don't let that dictate your interpretation. Your ensemble's own musicality matters more than mimicry.
• Balance transparency with blend in the ensemble sections. You want listeners to hear the richness of the harmony, not individual voices competing for attention.

This medley serves as an excellent centerpiece for a Broadway-themed concert or as part of a larger tribute to Bernstein's compositional genius. It also works as a accessible entry point for choirs wanting to expand beyond traditional classical repertoire without sacrificing musical substance. Consider pairing it with other mid-century American compositions to show the range of choral music available outside the classical canon.

• Reading jazz harmonies and chromatic voice leading
• Executing syncopated rhythms with precision
• Balancing ensemble blend while maintaining harmonic clarity
• Interpreting text with dramatic intention and emotional nuance
• Singing with stylistic awareness across the melodic and harmonic language of mid-century musical theater