This Day: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

This arrangement captures the theatrical energy of the original film version while remaining playable by most high school and community choirs. Lisa DeSpain's orchestration gives you genuine flexibility: use the full SoundTrax accompaniment for polish, or swap in the optional rhythm and synth (or horn) parts to match your ensemble's instrumentation and rehearsal timeline.

Bright, propulsive, and unapologetically optimistic. The rhythmic vitality pulls the listener forward while the melody sits comfortably for choral voices, creating that rare balance between showstopper energy and genuine singability. There's a spark of theatrical magic here that lifts the performance beyond routine pop arrangement.

This octavo suits high school choirs and community ensembles looking for contemporary material with mass appeal. The theatrical heritage and positive message make it equally at home in a winter concert, a show tune showcase, or a non-holiday seasonal program where you want modern repertoire with genuine heart.

• Nail the rhythmic drive from the opening. The song's momentum depends on tight ensemble precision, especially in unison and two-part passages. Mark entrances clearly and count through any syncopation in rehearsal before adding the accompaniment.
• Balance the lyrical content with the theatrical setting. The optimism in these lyrics works best when singers are genuinely connected to the message rather than performing surface-level energy.
• Use the SoundTrax recording to establish the intended tempo and style early, but encourage singers to listen critically rather than passively. Have them identify where the arrangement shifts or where their voice part takes on a distinctive role.
• Shape the dynamics according to the text. The climactic "'Cause all my life I've waited for this day" needs genuine intensity, so build systematically from the opening rather than staying at one volume level throughout.

Open a winter concert or holiday show with this number and set an energetic, contemporary tone for the program. You might also program it alongside other modern choral pop selections to create a set that showcases your ensemble's range, or use it as a standalone opener that commands attention and establishes the evening's mood immediately.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated pop idioms
• Balancing theatrical expression with choral blend
• Reading and executing two-part and unison passages in contemporary style
• Responding to recorded accompaniment while maintaining independent musicality