True Colors (arr. Deke Sharon): SSA Choral Octavo

Deke Sharon's arrangement unlocks this pop standard for SSA ensembles without losing the song's emotional core. The stripped-down a cappella setting forces singers to lean into the lyrical message while managing harmonic independence, making it both vocally rewarding and pedagogically substantial.

Intimate and honest. This arrangement creates a quiet conversation rather than a performance moment, inviting the audience into something personal. The a cappella texture makes every moment feel exposed and genuine.

SSA and SSAA choirs at the intermediate level and beyond. Students who know this song from popular culture will connect immediately, while the arrangement demands genuine vocal maturity and ensemble listening.

• Shape the opening phrases with clear breath support so sustained tones don't drift flat; this ballad lives and dies by intonation accuracy.
• Let the text drive your dynamic arc rather than musical habit. The chorus deserves space to build, but pull back when vulnerability returns.
• Balance your inner voices so the second soprano doesn't overwhelm the melody line in unison sections.

Pair this with other contemporary pop arrangements for a secular concert, or use it as a bridge piece between classical standards and modern repertoire. Its seven pages fit easily into a mixed program and work especially well as a concert closer when you want to leave the audience with something they'll remember.

• Sustaining pure vowels in supported ballad singing
• Maintaining intonation without instrumental support
• Blending in a cappella textures while keeping the melody transparent
• Expressing emotional subtext through dynamic control and phrasing