Kirby Shaw brings decades of choral expertise to every arrangement he writes. Educated at San Jose State University (Music Education and Choral Composition) and the University of Washington (DMA in Choral Conducting), Shaw has spent his career building vocal programs across North America, Europe, and beyond. His work with vocal jazz ensembles at College of the Siskiyous, Colorado State University, and University of Missouri at Kansas City established him as a leader in creative choral pedagogy, and his current direction of the Jefferson State Choral Coalition at Southern Oregon University continues that legacy.
With over 2,500 compositions and arrangements in print and nearly 20 million copies sold worldwide, Shaw's music reaches classrooms, concert halls, and stages everywhere. His gift for humor and accessible musicality infuses his teaching philosophy into every score he creates. A member of the a cappella quartet Just 4 Kicks and a frequent collaborator with vocal luminaries like Bobby McFerrin and Al Jarreau, Shaw understands both the technical demands and the joy of singing. His recent commission for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and his musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol (Scroogical, co-written with his wife Markita) showcase his range as a creator across multiple genres and formats.
Why we love this
Shaw combines the spiritual authenticity of a traditional spiritual with contemporary harmonic language and rhythmic vitality. The SSA voicing opens this arrangement to mixed ensembles or all-female choirs while maintaining textural depth, and the 10-page length gives you room to build real musicality without overwhelming a mid-level group. His infectious sense of humor translates into music that feels joyful rather than precious.
What to expect
The arrangement has a warm, forward momentum that captures the spiritual's sense of hope and movement. Kirby Shaw's harmonic palette feels modern without losing the emotional grounding of the spiritual tradition, creating a piece that feels both familiar and newly alive.
Who it's for
This works beautifully for SSA or SSAA choirs seeking a contemporary spiritual that honors the genre while offering fresh harmonic and rhythmic interest. It suits holiday concerts that want sacred repertoire beyond traditional carols, particularly ensembles with intermediate sight-reading skills.
How to get the most out of it
Shape the phrase "Hear the angels sing" with light articulation in the upper voices; this refrain should float above the harmonic foundation rather than drive through it.
Balance the divisi sections carefully so that inner voice independence reinforces the harmony without muddying the soprano line.
Let the rhythmic energy of the spiritual idiom breathe naturally; avoid metronomic precision in favor of the musical momentum Shaw's arrangement invites.
Use the recorded accompaniment as a learning tool during rehearsals, but encourage singers to internalize their parts so the arrangement can respond to your interpretive choices in performance.
How to use it
Pair this with other spirituals or sacred songs to create a thematic set that explores the spiritual's enduring place in American choral music. It also stands powerfully on its own as a Christmas concert opener or closer, setting a tone of joy and reverence that carries through the rest of your program.
Skills your students will build
Blending across SSA voicing with sustained inner-voice independence
Stylistic interpretation of the spiritual idiom
Ensemble balance when navigating divisi passages
Rhythmic precision in syncopated spiritual figures
Lyrical phrasing in refrain sections
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