The New Girl in Town: SSA Choral Octavo

Jay Althouse's SSA arrangement captures the sass and energy of Hairspray's most memorable moment without requiring legit Broadway singers. The song sits naturally for treble voices, the rhythmic energy keeps rehearsals engaging, and it's instantly recognizable to students who know the film, making motivation built-in.

Cheeky and propulsive, with the sort of infectious melodic hook that lands instantly and stays with singers long after rehearsal ends. The arrangement sparkles with period-appropriate color while maintaining the competitive, tongue-in-cheek energy that makes Hairspray such a crowd-pleaser.

Any SSA or SSAA choir looking for contemporary material with immediate appeal and theatrical personality. This works equally well for middle school groups ready for ensemble work with comedic timing and high school choirs seeking fun, movie-friendly repertoire that students want to sing.

• Nail the rhythmic precision in the verses. The comedy lands hardest when the sung text and accompaniment groove together tightly, so use the recorded accompaniment to lock your section releases and entrances.
• Balance the harmonic blend in the stacked SSA voicings; resist the temptation to let one part dominate. The richness comes from three equal voices supporting the lyrical content.
• Lean into the attitude without overdoing it. The character and humor emerge from confident singing, not exaggerated acting or affected diction.

Program this as a standalone concert piece for an all-treble concert, or pair it with other contemporary secular choral music for a pop choral showcase. It also works brilliantly as a concert opener, especially if your program includes other Broadway or film-inspired selections.

• Rhythmic precision and entrances in syncopated vocal writing
• SSA voicing balance and blend
• Character singing and comedic timing
• Diction clarity in contemporary song text
• Ensemble coordination with recorded accompaniment