City Of Stars (arr. Roger Emerson): Choral Instrumental Pak

Roger Emerson's arrangement preserves the emotional core of this Oscar-winning ballad while making it genuinely singable for mixed ensembles at moderate ranges. The orchestration gives your choir access to repertoire that students actually know and love, and the metaphorical text about falling for a city opens rich classroom conversations about how love songs work on multiple levels.

Wistful and romantic, with the gentle luminescence of a city at dusk. The arrangement wraps Hurwitz's sophisticated harmonic language around straightforward, singable lines that let vulnerability and affection shine through without requiring virtuosic technique.

Developing mixed choirs and chamber ensembles with moderate ranges and some choral experience. This works especially well for groups looking to program contemporary music that feels accessible without sacrificing musical substance.

• Bring out the lyrical quality of the melody by encouraging sustained phrasing rather than clipping phrase endings; the song's beauty lives in those long, connected lines.
• Balance the choir and accompaniment so that the harmonic richness of Hurwitz's writing supports but never overpowers the singers' ability to connect emotionally with the text.
• Let the dual perspective of the text breathe; mark where the singers are addressing the city versus each other, and adjust dynamics and focus accordingly.

Perfect as a concert centerpiece or closer when you want to feature film music or contemporary songwriting. It pairs naturally with other Broadway-influenced work or stands alone as a reflective moment in a program of lighter fare.

• Phrasing longer melodic lines with consistent legit breath support
• Blending four-part harmonies with rhythmic precision in a pop-influenced harmonic context
• Interpreting text with attention to metaphorical meaning
• Balancing ensemble sound against orchestral accompaniment