Still Holding My Hand (from Matilda The Musical) (arr. Mark Brymer): SATB Choral Octavo

Mark Brymer's arrangement captures the tenderness at the heart of this song without losing the theatrical sophistication of Minchin's original composition. The SATB voicing opens up this beautiful moment to a wider range of choirs, and the seven-page octavo sits at an accessible difficulty level that doesn't compromise the emotional authenticity young singers need to convey vulnerability on stage.

Quiet, intimate, and deeply moving. The song radiates a kind of gentle persistence, the feeling of showing up for someone through uncertainty. Singers will find themselves in a tender emotional space, one that requires them to balance technical precision with genuine expression.

This arrangement works for intermediate to advanced high school choirs, collegiate groups, and adult community choirs looking to add contemporary musical theater to their library. Directors drawn to Matilda or seeking repertoire with emotional authenticity and literary thoughtfulness will find this a rewarding choice for a concert or competition setting.

• Attend carefully to the lyrics; every word carries emotional weight in this song. Ensure your singers understand the story context so their delivery feels genuine rather than performed.
• Balance the individual voice lines so no single part overwhelms the blend. This arrangement works best when the harmonic support creates a warm foundation without drawing attention away from the main melody.
• Shape the phrases with subtle dynamic nuance rather than dramatic contrasts. The song's power comes from intimate connection, not volume.

This pairs beautifully in a set of contemporary musical theater selections or as a standalone moment of stillness in an otherwise energetic concert. The seven pages fit comfortably into most setlists, and the emotional directness makes it particularly effective as a closing number or as a bridge between contrasting moods in your program.

• Singing contemporary musical theater with historical awareness of its literary source material
• Blending SATB harmonies with controlled dynamics in intimate settings
• Interpretive singing that balances theatrical authenticity with choral technique
• Sustaining emotional connection across a complete phrase without excessive vocal fatigue