My Shot: SATB Choral Octavo

This arrangement captures the raw energy and narrative drive of the original without losing the vocal accessibility your singers need. Alan Billingsley's adaptation makes room for featured soloists and small-group moments while keeping the collective power of the full ensemble intact, giving every voice in your choir something meaningful to do.

The music pulses with infectious forward momentum, mixing rap verses with soaring choral moments that feel triumphant and anthemic. You'll hear the friction and release between tight rhythmic control and full-voiced emotional release, creating a piece that feels both modern and theatrical.

This piece speaks to choirs looking for contemporary repertoire that reflects the musical language their singers actually listen to. It's ideal for groups with strong rhythmic ensemble skills and singers willing to embrace hip-hop delivery and attitude alongside traditional vocal technique.

• Establish the hip-hop groove in early rehearsals by having your rhythm section (bass, drums if available) lock the pulse before layering voices. Even a cappella, the rhythmic precision of this piece depends on that foundation.
• Treat your featured soloists and small groups as character voices, not just technical showcases. The rap passages tell a story; coach your singers to deliver the text with conviction and intention.
• Pay attention to the dynamic contrast between verse sections and the chorus. The drive and intensity of the full choir on the chorus is most powerful when the earlier moments have clear restraint.
• Consider how your accompaniment reinforces the hip-hop idiom. If you're using the recorded accompaniment, let your singers hear it in rehearsal early so they internalize the groove.

Open or close a concert with this piece to energize your audience and frame your choir as relevant and contemporary. It pairs effectively on programs that mix classical and pop repertoire, or use it as a statement piece when you want to challenge audience expectations about what concert choirs can and do perform.

• Hip-hop rhythmic vocabulary and syncopation
• Ensemble rhythmic precision in complex meters
• Soloist confidence and character interpretation
• Blending contemporary speech rhythms with sung passages
• Dynamic control and contrast between sections