Found/Tonight: TTB Choral Octavo

This arrangement honors the emotional core of both shows while creating something genuinely new. The mash-up structure gives your singers a familiar entry point into contemporary composition, and the TTB voicing makes this accessible to groups that often struggle finding meaningful repertoire at this level. Programming this signals to your singers and audience that you value music written right now by composers still actively working in theater.

The arrangement carries the intimacy of Dear Evan Hansen's introspective lyrics alongside the infectious energy of Hamilton's rhythmic momentum. When voices blend around these melodies, the piece conveys hope without sentimentality, hope without naiveté. It feels contemporary, earnest, and deeply human.

TTB choirs looking for contemporary repertoire with genuine emotional substance. This works equally well for high school ensembles, college groups, and community choirs where singers already connect with Broadway or musical theater. Directors seeking to expand their program beyond traditional choral standards will find this arrangement speaks directly to the world their singers already inhabit.

• Honor the lyrical intent of each song. 'You Will Be Found' carries a message of support and belonging; 'The Story of Tonight' celebrates youth and possibility. Let those contrasting emotional landscapes shape your interpretation rather than rushing either section.
• Work the blend between upper and lower voices carefully during the transition. The arrangement's power depends on clarity, so establish who's carrying melody versus harmonic support before full rehearsals begin.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to lock the rhythmic vocabulary early. Both shows employ contemporary rhythmic patterns that differ from traditional choral textures, and hearing the full arrangement helps singers internalize the style.
• Pay attention to dynamics as emotional markers, not just volume changes. The softer moments in this arrangement often signal vulnerability; the fuller moments signal connection. Your singers will engage more deeply if they understand why the composer shaped the dynamics this way.

Pair this with other contemporary choral selections to create a concert that reflects the musical world your singers actually live in. It works as a powerful closer to a standard choral concert, offering your audience a bridge between traditional repertoire and the Broadway compositions they hear on playlists and in theaters. Consider programming it alongside instrumental pieces that employ similar rhythmic vocabulary or thematic material.

• Reading contemporary rhythmic patterns and syncopation
• Balancing TTB voicing across sustained and rhythmic sections
• Performing with stylistic awareness of Broadway musical theater conventions
• Interpreting dynamic and textual nuance as emotional storytelling
• Blending upper and lower voices while maintaining line clarity