Hairspray, Selections from: Full Orchestra Conductor Score

Victor López's orchestration gives you genuine flexibility here. The arrangement works beautifully as a strings-only piece for ensembles still building their wind sections, yet fills out magnificently when you add woodwinds, brass, or both. That kind of intelligent adaptability, paired with music from a widely loved film, makes this medley instantly engaging for your students and audience alike.

Infectious optimism runs through these selections. The medley captures the film's bright, comedic spirit, with melodies that sit naturally in the orchestra and harmonies that feel generous and full. Each song carries its own character, yet the whole experience moves with the momentum of a genuine showstopper.

Conductors seeking concert repertoire that combines contemporary appeal with solid musical writing for Grade 3 orchestras. Students at this level benefit from playing recognizable, joyful music that doesn't require advanced technical facility but still demands musical maturity and ensemble awareness.

• Balance the ensemble so that melodic moments remain clear; these show tunes depend on the tune being heard even when the full orchestra is engaged.
• Use the film as a reference. Watching those scenes gives students the energy and character choices that live in the music, helping them understand the emotional context of each selection.
• Shape the transitions between songs with attention to tempo and dynamics so the medley feels like one cohesive journey rather than four separate pieces.
• Adjust your instrumentation strategically across the five minutes. Starting with strings and adding winds at key moments can heighten the sense of building excitement.

Program this as a strong closer for a pops concert or as the finale of a spring concert where you want to send your audience out smiling. It also works well as a centerpiece for a program celebrating film music or contemporary musical theater alongside other Grade 3 selections from the same era.

• Balancing multiple melodic lines within a full orchestral texture
• Playing through key changes and tonal shifts between medley selections
• Responding to conductor cues for smooth transitions between songs
• Maintaining rhythmic cohesion across sections when different instrumental groups have contrasting rhythmic figures