Mark Hayes has composed and arranged more than 1,750 published works spanning sacred music, concert pieces, musicals, and piano literature. A summa cum laude graduate of Baylor University's piano performance program, he has established himself as a sought-after conductor and guest artist at Lincoln Center, the National Cathedral, and Carnegie Hall, where his sacred works including the Te Deum, Magnificat, and Gloria have received major performances. His Requiem premiered at Lincoln Center in 2013 and was subsequently performed at St. Ignatius Basilica in Rome as part of a Vatican-sponsored festival in 2014.
Beyond the concert hall, Hayes has contributed significantly to musical theater and multimedia projects, orchestrating works for stage and composing the score for Civil War Voices, which earned six awards at the Midtown International Theatre Festival. His catalog demonstrates particular mastery of keyboard writing, with over 100 piano publications ranging from gospel and jazz to classical and Broadway arrangements. The recipient of Baylor University's Award for Exemplary Leadership in Christian Music in 2010, Hayes continues composing and conducting from his home in Kansas City, Missouri.
Why we love this
Hayes brings a gift for creating emotionally direct text-setting that lands with the singers and resonates with audiences. The writing sits comfortably in the voice parts while maintaining sophisticated harmonic language; this is the work of someone who knows exactly what makes a choir sound good. It's the kind of piece that deepens a concert program without demanding extensive rehearsal time.
What to expect
The piece carries an earnest, confessional quality that invites genuine emotional engagement from both singers and listeners. Hayes's harmonic language provides warmth and depth without veering into sentimentality, creating space for the text to carry its own weight.
Who it's for
This octavo works for choirs ranging from intermediate to advanced levels. It serves equally well in church settings, concert programs, or competition repertoire, requiring solid part-singing skills and sensitivity to text expression rather than extreme technical demands.
How to get the most out of it
Balance the inner voices carefully in the harmonic passages; the beauty emerges when all four parts maintain equal presence rather than soprano dominance.
Shape the phrase arcs to follow the natural prosody of the text, letting the message breathe rather than pushing through to phrase endings.
Consider the acoustic properties of your venue and adjust blend accordingly; this piece rewards clarity in a smaller, more intimate space.
How to use it
Slot this into a concert as a reflective moment between more energetic works, or use it as the thematic anchor in a program exploring faith, commitment, or personal messages. Its moderate length makes it an efficient addition to a church service or community concert where substance and sincerity matter more than novelty.
Skills your students will build
Balancing four-part SATB voicing with even blend across all parts
Interpretive text-setting and expressive phrasing
Navigating diatonic harmonic progressions with secure intonation
Sustaining emotional authenticity throughout performance
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