City of Stars (from La La Land): String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

This arrangement captures the wistful, intimate quality of the original while giving string players genuinely rewarding material. Kazik's orchestration sits comfortably at grades 3-4 without sacrificing the song's emotional core, making it accessible for most high school and many middle school programs. The jazz-inflected harmony adds sophistication that keeps audiences engaged from the first measure.

The melody unfolds with quiet nostalgia, supported by jazz harmonies that give the piece a modern, sophisticated edge. There's an undeniable vulnerability here, a sense of longing that resonates whether you're hearing it for the first time or the hundredth.

High school and advanced middle school orchestras seeking contemporary repertoire that connects with students and audiences alike. Directors programming concerts that bridge classical and film music traditions will find this piece both accessible and substantive.

• Shape the melody with long, singing phrases rather than breaking it into smaller segments. This piece breathes best when players think in four and eight-bar units.
• Balance the harmonic voices carefully in the lower strings. The sophistication of the chords depends on hearing all the layers, even the inner voices that support the main line.
• Establish the tempo with confidence and maintain it steadily. At 2:45, this piece asks for consistent pulse work from your ensemble, particularly in the rhythm section.
• Let the dynamic shape evolve naturally through the arrangement. Resist the urge to make sudden changes; the buildup should feel organic and inevitable.

Pair this with other contemporary film scores to create a themed concert, or use it as an elegant contrast within a classical program. The length and straightforward structure make it an effective closer for a concert, leaving audiences with a memorable, emotionally satisfying final impression.

• Sustaining long melodic lines with consistent tone and vibrato control
• Balancing inner harmonic voices in jazz-inflected chord progressions
• Reading and performing above-staff notations and contemporary articulation marks
• Maintaining ensemble blend across different dynamic levels
• Connecting film music interpretation to traditional orchestral phrasing