The Holiday Season: SAB Choral Octavo

Mark Hayes's arrangement transforms Thompson's classic into a full-throttle production number with genuine star power. The instrumental accompaniment and featured piano part elevate this beyond typical holiday fare, giving your singers a showcase moment that feels fresh rather than nostalgic. Your audience will recognize it immediately, but they'll hear it as you've never performed it before.

Glamorous and infectious. The arrangement channels the sophistication of mid-century Hollywood with bright harmonies, a propulsive rhythm section, and moments that demand full vocal commitment. It's a celebration song that sounds expensive and feels utterly fun to sing.

Choirs with strong sight-reading skills and solid intonation will thrive here. Hayes's voicings are colorful and require blend; this is ideal for advanced high school choirs, college ensembles, or community groups accustomed to pop literature.

• Lock in the rhythm section tight. The swing groove anchors everything; if the piano and bass feel loose, the whole arrangement loses its punch.
• Highlight the melody line in the treble voices first, then layer the harmonies once they're secure. Hayes writes active voicings that need clarity.
• Lean into the theatrical energy. This arrangement thrives on confidence and polish; underplay it and it feels flat.

Place this as a show-stopping finale or second act opener on a holiday concert. It pairs well with other contemporary pop arrangements and provides thrilling contrast to traditional or classical fare. The recorded accompaniment makes it workable even with limited rehearsal time.

• Singing pop/jazz voicings with clean blend and intonation
• Rhythmic precision in syncopated, groove-based material
• Interpreting theatrical dynamics and stylistic inflection
• Reading complex three-part arrangements with active inner voices