Part Of Me (from Dear Evan Hansen) (arr. Roger Emerson): SSA Choral Octavo

Roger Emerson's SSA voicing captures the vulnerability at the heart of this song while keeping the arrangement accessible for developing choirs. The arrangement preserves the emotional weight of the original while offering clear harmonic writing that allows singers to focus on storytelling rather than technical complexity.

Introspective and achingly honest. The song sits in a reflective, almost conversational space where a character is working through competing truths about themselves and their relationships. The arrangement supports that quietness with clear, supportive harmonies that let the lyrics land.

Choirs with SSAA flexibility looking to program contemporary musical theater that connects with student singers emotionally. This works well for advanced middle school choirs and high school ensembles ready to tackle a song rooted in genuine dramatic truth.

• Balance the melody between your first sopranos and second sopranos during the verses; the tune dips between parts, so rehearse those transitions explicitly to keep the line coherent.
• Shape dynamics gradually rather than in sudden jumps. This song thrives on small, meaningful crescendos that mirror the emotional arc of the text.
• Honor the introspective quality in softer passages by maintaining vocal ease and natural phrasing; the arrangement doesn't call for belting, so encourage your singers to sing through without tension.
• Check the recorded accompaniment for harmonic color and tempo feel, especially where the original has subtle harmonic movement that can easily be flattened in rehearsal.

Pair this with other contemporary musical theater to create a focused set that speaks to your singers' actual emotional lives. It works equally well as a concert centerpiece for a smaller ensemble or as part of a larger program exploring how modern musical theater functions as genuine art.

• Singing legit musical theater style without oversinging
• Sustaining emotional expression across longer phrases
• Managing inner-part harmony that shifts the melodic focus
• Responding to lyrical subtext in arrangement choices