Wicked (Choral Highlights) (arr. Mark Brymer): SAB Choral Octavo

Mark Brymer's SAB voicing strips Wicked down to its emotional core without losing the theatrical magic that makes these songs resonate with audiences. You get legitimate Broadway material that your middle school and developing high school singers can actually execute, opening the door to repertoire that feels current and relevant rather than apologetically "educational."

Infectious, theatrical, and surprisingly moving. These arrangements capture the defiant optimism and emotional vulnerability that made Wicked a phenomenon, wrapped in accessible voicing that invites rather than overwhelms. Your singers will feel like they're performing actual musical theater, not arrangements of it.

Choirs at the middle school through early high school level who are ready for Broadway material with real dramatic substance. This also works beautifully for treble choirs and as an engagement piece for singers who might not otherwise connect with concert repertoire.

• Attend closely to the rhythmic precision in the ensemble passages; Schwartz's pop-influenced vocabulary requires crisp articulation and locked ensemble rather than lingering through phrase endings.
• Build character work into your rehearsal process from day one. These melodies are inseparable from the emotional arc of Wicked, and singers who understand Elphaba or Glinda's journey will deliver far more compelling performances.
• Use the full 38 pages strategically. If you're programming the entire suite, consider how these highlights function as a narrative arc, and shape tempos and dynamics accordingly across pieces rather than treating each selection as isolated.
• Balance the pop sensibility with genuine vocal production. This isn't belt music for a choral context; Brymer's arrangement sits well for singers who support from the diaphragm and shape phrases musically.

Build an entire spring concert around these highlights, or select individual numbers to anchor a "Broadway meets Concert" program that speaks to singers' actual musical lives. This material also serves as a bridge for younger ensembles curious about theater and for building programming that reflects your community's interests beyond traditional choral canon.

• Storytelling and character expression within ensemble singing
• Pop-influenced rhythmic precision and articulation
• Sustaining legit vocal production while navigating contemporary melodic language
• Phrasing shaped by dramatic intent rather than purely musical structure
• Ensemble balance and blend across multiple voice parts in music with prominent melody