Reaching for the Stars Cover Image

Reaching for the Stars: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

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Reaching for the Stars Cover Image

Reaching for the Stars: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

Words and music by Sally K. Albrecht and Jay Althouse

Item: 00-A-00015479

$27.99
Digital Download
Description

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-A-00015479

More about this title

About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht

Sally K. Albrecht

Sally K. Albrecht has shaped American choral music for decades as a composer, conductor, and clinician with a distinctive focus on integrating movement into choral performance. Since 1987, she has received the ASCAP Special Music Award annually and maintains over 600 published choral works alongside 75 larger musicals and songbooks. She conducted honor choirs at prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center, and served as Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications at Alfred Music for more than thirty years.

Albrecht earned her B.A. from Rollins College (Florida) in 1976 with degrees in Music and Theater, followed by an M.A. in Drama and M.M. in Accompanying from the University of Miami. She has taught at Oakland University (Michigan), Jersey City State College (New Jersey), and Meredith College (North Carolina). In 2021, she received the Distinguished Alumna Award from both the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Rollins College, where she serves on the Board of Trustees. She lives in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with her husband, composer and arranger Jay Althouse.

Why we love this

Albrecht and Althouse understand the emotional weight of graduation, and this piece honors that moment without resorting to oversentimental clichés. The recorded accompaniment lets you focus entirely on the choir's blend and energy, making it an ideal choice when rehearsal time is tight. This is the kind of repertoire that sticks with students long after the diploma is handed out.

What to expect

This piece captures both the optimism and quiet reflection that graduation moments deserve. The music propels forward with hope while leaving room for genuine emotion to surface. You'll find your singers connecting personally with the text, which is exactly when meaningful performances happen.

Who it's for

Choirs performing at graduation ceremonies or end-of-year celebrations seeking a contemporary piece that resonates with students and audiences alike. Directors looking for a ready-to-perform option that doesn't demand weeks of rehearsal can rely on the recorded accompaniment to anchor the ensemble while attention goes to expressive singing.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the text delivery carefully. Graduation pieces need clarity above all; make sure the message comes through even in the back of a gymnasium or auditorium.
  • Use the recorded accompaniment to establish a steady foundation, then work with your choir to add layers of interpretation through dynamics and phrasing that feel genuine to your singers.
  • Pay attention to the moments where the text carries the emotional weight. Let silence and space breathe; resist the urge to fill every moment with sound.
  • Consider staging the piece with intentional formation changes or simple movement that complements the lyrics without overwhelming the vocal performance.

How to use it

Close a graduation concert with this piece, placing it after repertoire that showcases your choir's full range but letting it stand as a final, intimate statement. It works beautifully as the anchoring moment in a ceremony program, offering your singers a chance to shine while the audience experiences the emotional culmination of the event.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing with recorded accompaniment while maintaining independent vocal control
  • Text expression and emotional authenticity in contemporary choral writing
  • Ensemble blend and balance in a concert setting
  • Interpretation of contemporary harmonic language

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