Wheels of a Dream: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

This octavo captures one of Broadway's most stirring moments without requiring a full pit orchestra or elaborate staging. John Leavitt's arrangement preserves the Tony-winning score's emotional arc while keeping the part writing accessible for strong community and school choirs. Programming this signals that your ensemble can handle material with real theatrical weight.

Sweeping and cinematic, with the kind of soaring melody that lives in memory long after the final chord. The arrangement honors the original's theatrical grandeur while creating space for voices to shine. This is music that makes singers feel the stakes of what they're performing.

Intermediate to advanced high school and community choirs seeking substantial Broadway repertoire with genuine dramatic weight. This piece demands secure sight-reading and confident ensemble blend, making it ideal for groups that have moved beyond pop covers into the musical theater canon.

• Balance the recorded accompaniment carefully during rehearsals so singers can hear themselves; the orchestration is full and can mask intonation issues if levels aren't checked.
• Find the emotional narrative arc across the piece rather than treating it as a collection of sections. The drama builds intentionally, so shape dynamic choices to support that trajectory.
• Pay attention to the text rhythm and how Flaherty's melody sits against it. Broadway writing often uses syncopation and unexpected emphasis that requires singers to stay connected to the lyric's natural phrasing.

Feature this as a standalone number on a pops or Broadway-themed concert, or pair it with other selections from Ragtime or contemporary musical theater to create a cohesive set. Its dramatic intensity also makes it an excellent closer for a concert that otherwise features lighter fare, giving audiences a powerful send-off.

• Sustaining long phrases with consistent support and breath control
• Balancing blend and intonation while tracking an orchestral accompaniment
• Interpreting Broadway-style text delivery and emotional expression
• Reading compound harmonies and modern harmonic language