Roar: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Katy Perry wrote an earworm that students actually want to sing. Alan Billingsley's 2-part arrangement strips away production complexity without sacrificing the song's defiant energy, making it accessible for mixed-ability choirs while preserving what makes the original resonate with teenage and young adult singers. This is repertoire that bridges the gap between what choirs perform and what students hear on their own time.

Propulsive and defiant. The arrangement captures the original's combative spirit without drowning singers in complex layering, letting them feel the swagger of the melody and lyrics. There's a rhythmic swagger underneath everything, propelled by the steady accompaniment and punctuated by moments of full vocal impact that feel earned rather than rushed.

Any choir looking for contemporary, energizing material that connects with younger singers while remaining substantial enough for concert programming. This works equally well for high school choirs, adult community groups with mixed voices, and college select ensembles seeking a crowd-pleasing closer. The 2-part voicing makes it particularly valuable for developing choirs or mixed ensembles where doubling voices is essential.

• Commit to the rhythmic drive of the groove. The power of this arrangement comes from locking into the steady pulse rather than pushing the tempo or rushing the syncopated figures.
• Shape the dynamics to build toward the chorus. Keeping verses lean and controlled makes the full choral entrance on the main hook land with genuine impact.
• Layer the attitude into vowel placement. Clear, bright vowels on the power notes (especially the titular word) will cut through the accompaniment and deliver the empowerment message the text demands.
• Balance the 2-part writing so neither voice disappears. Both parts carry essential melodic and harmonic material, so ensure your singers understand they're equally responsible for the arrangement's success.

Reserve this for a concert closer or a strategic spot midprogram where you need to lift energy and engage the audience. Its accessibility and contemporary appeal make it an excellent pairing with either a cappella warm-ups or classical shorter works, creating effective program contrast. Consider programming it alongside other empowerment-themed selections to reinforce thematic coherence.

• Maintaining rhythmic precision against a syncopated accompaniment
• Balancing dynamic contrast to highlight melodic moments
• Sustaining vowel clarity and projection in contemporary pop idiom
• Reading and executing 2-part harmony with melodic independence