I Am Light (arr. Mark Hayes and Kimberly Lilley): SAB Choral Octavo

Mark Hayes and Kimberly Lilley have crafted an arrangement that preserves the warmth and accessibility of India.Arie's original while opening it up for three-part mixed voices. The orchestration sits comfortably for SAB ensembles, making this a rare pop arrangement that feels neither overstuffed nor oversimplified. Singers consistently connect with the message of self-affirmation embedded in this piece, creating performances that feel genuine rather than performative.

Affirming and intimate. The arrangement creates space for reflection even as the harmonic language and melodic gesture feel immediately accessible. Singing this piece should feel like participating in something hopeful rather than performing for judgment.

SAB choirs looking for contemporary material with substance. Directors seeking pop repertoire that engages students without compromising musicality. Ensembles wanting to program something that resonates with today's audiences while building three-part mixed ensemble skills.

• Let the text drive your phrasing rather than imposing classical diction patterns. The conversational quality of India.Arie's writing should feel natural and intimate, even in a choral setting.
• Balance the solo moments against the full ensemble sections deliberately. These shifts in texture are what give the arrangement its emotional arc.
• Attend closely to dynamic contrast. The arrangement uses dynamics to deepen the affirmation at the heart of the piece; underplaying these shifts flattens the impact.
• Work the blend between parts before worrying about precision. A warm, unified sound matters more here than surgical articulation.

Consider this as a closer for a spring concert or as part of a program exploring themes of identity and belonging. It pairs well with both traditional repertoire and other contemporary selections, and works equally effectively as a standalone feature or as one piece in a larger pop-inflected set. The message travels well in assembly settings and community performances where connection matters as much as technical polish.

• Sustaining legit tone in contemporary pop idioms
• Phrasing in SAB voicing with asymmetrical melody placement
• Dynamic shaping for emotional storytelling
• Blending warmth across three-part mixed voices
• Balancing solo features with choral texture