New Light Shining: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

This piece captures the sonic DNA of contemporary pop radio while remaining genuinely singable for high school and adult choirs. Alan Billingsley's arrangement honors the memorable hook while distributing the musical interest across all voice parts, making it work equally well as an opener that sets an energetic tone or as a closer that sends audiences out feeling inspired.

Bright, forward-moving, and immediately familiar in the way that great pop hooks are. The piece has the drive and optimism of a song you'd hear on the radio, yet it carries real emotional weight in its celebration and affirmation.

High school and adult choirs seeking a piece that feels current and singable without compromising musical substance. This works equally well for show choirs looking for a concert-format alternative to pop mashups, and for traditional choirs wanting to expand their repertoire into contemporary songwriting.

• Let the recorded accompaniment drive the contemporary feel; resist the urge to slow the tempo or soften the pop energy, even if your choir isn't naturally drawn to this style.
• Balance the hook melody with the supporting parts so the arrangement stays full without drowning out what makes the song memorable.
• Work sections of the piece independently before combining; the contemporary harmonic language benefits from secure, isolated part singing first.
• Commit to the stylistic confidence the tune demands. Singers often undersell pop-influenced anthems by over-enunciating or singing too formally; encourage genuine, conversational delivery.

Program this as your opening number for a fall concert or year-end celebration to establish an uplifting, contemporary vibe from the start. It also works beautifully as a graduation finale, where the sentiment of new light and forward momentum resonates with the occasion.

• singing contemporary pop harmonic language and modal inflections
• maintaining rhythmic precision with syncopated, radio-style patterns
• balancing homophonic texture with lyrical sensitivity
• interpreting stylistically appropriate diction and phrasing for modern choral pop