Selections from Dear Evan Hansen: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Intimate and vulnerable, with moments of soaring optimism. The writing captures the emotional honesty of the original score, moving from quiet introspection through moments of connection and ultimately toward affirming hope. Your students will feel the weight and purpose of what they are playing.

Concert bands at the Grade 3 level who want to program repertoire that resonates with contemporary audiences and student musicians alike. This works especially well for ensembles seeking Broadway or musical theater material that doesn't condescend to younger players.

• Balance the ensemble voices so that melodic lines sing through without the band sounding thick or murky; these tunes depend on clarity and space.
• Work the transitions between the three songs carefully, since each one has its own character and the medley's impact relies on clean sectional shifts.
• Let the rhythm section lock in early; the contemporary feel needs steady, confident pulse work from percussion and low brass to land properly.
• Pay attention to dynamics and phrasing cues that help convey the emotional arc from introspection to hope across the three selections.

Consider programming this as a bridge between concert staples and contemporary music, or pair it with other pop/rock arrangements to create a thematic set exploring modern musical theater. At 4 minutes and 40 seconds, it fits neatly into a concert pacing as a standalone feature or as part of a longer medley block.

• Balancing melodic clarity within a full ensemble texture
• Navigating contemporary pop/rock style and rhythmic feels
• Shaping phrase contours and dynamics across contrasting sections
• Executing clean transitions between distinct musical moods
• Sustaining ensemble blend while maintaining individual voice independence