We're All Children of the World: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Hayden and arranger Jay Althouse craft a piece with genuine theatrical energy that doesn't feel manufactured or preachy. The multicultural production design on the SoundTrax recording gives directors a clear model for how the piece can breathe beyond the notes on the page. The combination of uplifting message with genuinely engaging music makes this a rare choice that students will want to sing and audiences will remember.

Energetic and purposeful, with an undercurrent of genuine optimism rather than saccharine sentiment. The music moves forward with momentum while remaining rooted in singable, memorable lines that feel contemporary without veering into trend-chasing.

This octavo works for middle school and high school choirs seeking accessible contemporary repertoire with a message that resonates. It's particularly suited to directors programming secular concerts, multicultural showcases, or events focused on global community and forward-thinking themes.

• Use the SoundTrax recording early in rehearsal to establish the piece's rhythmic drive and stylistic character, especially if your choir hasn't performed contemporary secular works before.
• Integrate the suggested movement and staging throughout your rehearsals rather than adding choreography as an afterthought; the staging becomes part of how the piece communicates its message.
• Balance the energetic tempo with clear diction so the lyrical content ("we carry the future with us") lands meaningfully rather than getting lost in the momentum.
• Lean into the multicultural feel by varying tone color and vocal weight across sections; avoid a uniform, classical approach that would undercut the piece's contemporary spirit.

This piece can anchor a concert section on social responsibility and global awareness, or serve as a powerful closer for a program addressing youth, community, or environmental themes. Its theatrical dimension also makes it valuable for concert productions that blend concert music with light staging or choreography.

• Singing contemporary choral writing with rhythmic precision
• Interpreting movement and staging as an extension of musical expression
• Balancing energetic tempo with clear lyrical communication
• Developing ensemble blend in multicultural and world music contexts