I Am Light (arr. Mark Hayes and Kimberly Lilley): 2-Part Choral Octavo

Hayes and Lilley have captured the warmth and introspection of the original while making it accessible for developing choirs. The 2-part texture allows you to focus on blend and phrasing rather than wrestling with complex voicings, and the arrangement respects the song's emotional core without sacrificing musical substance.

Introspective and affirming. The piece carries a quiet confidence, building gradually as it develops, with moments of vulnerability balanced by steady harmonic support. You'll find yourself pulled into the song's reflective quality rather than energized by bombast.

Middle school and high school choirs looking for contemporary repertoire with genuine emotional content. This arrangement also works well for community choirs and sacred music programs seeking modern songs that speak to themes of hope and inner strength.

• Let the lyrics breathe. This piece invites conversational phrasing rather than rigid rhythmic precision; allow rubato in the verses while staying connected to the pulse.
• Balance the upper and lower voices so neither dominates. The arrangement works best when both parts feel equally important to the overall harmonic color.
• Mark dynamic transitions clearly in rehearsal. Subtle shifts in volume shape the emotional arc and prevent the performance from feeling static across the ten pages.

Pair this with spirituals or contemporary hymns to create a program segment on resilience and personal identity. Its moderate length and accessible voicing also make it ideal for including during winter or spring concerts when you want to shift the emotional temperature without overwhelming your singers' technical demands.

• sustaining phrases without breaking for breath
• balancing two independent vocal lines in a homophonic texture
• interpreting contemporary pop harmony and vocal phrasing
• singing with emotional authenticity rather than technical perfection