I Will Be: SATB Choral Octavo

The music radiates quiet confidence building into affirmation. Harmonies suggest modern warmth rather than romantic pastiche, and the text setting allows words to land with clarity and intention. There's room for both intimacy and power within this ten-page span.

This works for choirs at the intermediate to advanced high school level, college sacred or secular ensembles, and community choirs seeking repertoire with genuine substance. Directors building a concert around contemporary inspirational literature will find a piece that stands apart from oversaturated festival catalogs.

• Establish a steady heartbeat in the rhythm section during rehearsals, then gradually pull back the accompaniment so the choir's independence and clarity emerge.
• Mark phrase endings carefully in your score so singers understand where to breathe and when the line truly resolves versus when it pushes forward.
• Balance the soprano line's moments of prominence against the other voices; this isn't a soprano feature, so keep the ensemble texture cohesive even during higher passages.
• Experiment with tempo flexibility at structural turning points to highlight the emotional arc without losing forward momentum.

This sits naturally as a second or third item in a concert, providing an emotional anchor without overstaying its welcome. It pairs well on programs featuring other contemporary sacred or inspirational works, or as a standout moment when building thematic concert arcs around resilience and hope.

• Balancing four-part harmony with clear voice independence
• Text expression and phrasing in a contemporary choral idiom
• Part singing across a full ten-page arc
• Understanding modern harmonic language and its emotional function