Toxic (arr. Deke Sharon): SSAA Choral Octavo

Deke Sharon's arrangement captures the propulsive energy of the original while building around clean, singable lines that sit naturally on voices. The SSAA voicing keeps it accessible for mixed high school or treble choirs without sacrificing the contemporary edge that makes students genuinely excited to learn the piece.

Sleek and hypnotic, with the kind of rhythmic pocket that makes audiences lean in. There's a controlled intensity here that comes from precision rather than power, and the a cappella texture puts everything on the singers' shoulders.

Treble and mixed choirs at the high school level looking for contemporary repertoire that actually sounds like the students want to sing it. This works equally well for concert choirs seeking a crowd-pleasing opener or encore and for show choirs hunting for accessible pop material.

• Keep the rhythmic drive locked in the second sopranos and altos; they establish the groove that the first sopranos sit on top of. Rehearse without the melody line first so the foundation sets.
• The original track sits in a distinctive vocal range. Check your soprano range ceiling before committing to keys; transposition may serve your ensemble better than an uncomfortably high or pushed sound.
• Shape phrases by thinking horizontally rather than harmonically. These voices need to feel like they're moving forward, not just supporting a melody.

Place this early in a concert to establish energy and modernity, especially if the rest of your program leans toward classical or jazz repertoire. It's equally effective as a confident encore that reminds audiences why contemporary music belongs on concert programs.

• Rhythmic precision and groove maintenance in a cappella settings
• Sustaining tone color across a full arrangement without instrumental doubling
• Balancing exposed melody with supportive harmonic parts
• Understanding contemporary vocal production and phrasing
• Building ensemble cohesion in syncopated, groove-based writing