“What Will We Hear” brings the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus together with featured soloist Kristin Chenoweth in a virtual performance of Andrew Lippa’s music and lyrics. Published on January 28, 2021, the video captures a moment when the Chorus could make music together while its singers remained physically apart.
How the song began
At a Zoom donor meeting in May 2020, the conversation turned to when live rehearsals and performances might resume. Artistic Director Tim Seelig shared a reflection about whether a reunion would be marked by singing or tears. Inspired by that exchange, Lippa composed the piece in two weeks, scoring it for men’s chorus, orchestra, and soprano soloist.
Recording together from a distance
Lippa recorded the accompaniment, Chenoweth recorded her solo separately, and Chorus members recorded from their living rooms. Leslie Ann Jones combined those recordings through audio mixing at Skywalker Sound.
Recording and video credits
- Music and lyrics: Andrew Lippa
- Featured soloist: Kristin Chenoweth
- Chorus: San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus
- Audio mixing: Leslie Ann Jones, Skywalker Sound
- Mastering: Michael Romanowski, Coast Mastering
- Assistant audio engineer: Ed Carlo Arafiles
- Video editor: Marco Solorio, OneRiver Media
Shared with the community
The song was also released as a single on streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. In the San Francisco Bay Times on February 11, 2021, Sister Dana Van Iquity recommended the virtual performance to readers, highlighting Chenoweth’s appearance and Lippa’s composition.
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