Greg Gilpin has built a multifaceted career as an ASCAP-awarded composer, arranger, and conductor whose work spans concert halls from Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center to the Sydney Opera House, Royal Festival Hall London, and Harpa Concert Hall Reykjavik. He serves as Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press and has garnered recognition for film scoring, including "Best Score" for the short film "Rosie's Rescue" in 2021, while maintaining active roles in ACDA, NAfME, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Beyond the concert stage, Gilpin expanded his professional practice in 2020 by becoming a certified financial coach and Boss Organizer, founding Maestro Organizing and appearing on Fox and NBC network affiliates as well as the television series "Hoarders." His collaborative projects include a world premiere arrangement of "What Child is This?" with opera singer Angela Brown and the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir. Gilpin continues to teach, compose, and conduct as the musical world reopens.
Why we love this
Gilpin and Parker deliver a spiritual arrangement that feels both contemporary and timeless, built on text that resonates with your singers' lived experience. The SSA voicing makes this accessible to a wide range of choirs without sacrificing musical depth or the infectious confidence of the title itself.
What to expect
Buoyant and affirming, with the unmistakable character of a spiritual that has been reimagined for modern singers. The piece radiates resilience without sounding precious, grounded in conviction and movement.
Who it's for
SSA choirs seeking spirituals and sacred repertoire with contemporary vitality. Works equally well for community choirs, high school women's ensembles, and college programs looking for repertoire that energizes both singers and audience.
How to get the most out of it
Commit fully to the rhythmic drive of the text. These syllables propel the piece forward, so precision in unison passages creates momentum that carries through the harmony.
Balance the soloistic moments with ensemble support. Even when one voice line steps out, the accompaniment should anchor rather than overpower.
Explore the dynamic possibilities within each phrase rather than treating dynamics as fixed landmarks. This allows the emotional arc to build organically.
How to use it
Pair this with other Gilpin arrangements or contemporary spirituals for a thematic concert, or use it as a standalone moment of joy and lift in a mixed program. The eight-page length makes it ideal for mid-concert placement where energy and engagement matter most.
Skills your students will build
Rhythmic clarity and precision in syncopated spiritual patterns
Blend and balance in close SSA voicing
Expression of spiritual and cultural text with authenticity
Flexibility between solo and ensemble singing
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