To See the Sky

SATB, piano

To See the Sky is a deeply personal and heartfelt choral work composed in memory of Dr. Amy Adele Foster—a beloved choral director, mentor, and pianist whose artistry and spirit left a lasting impression on all who knew her. The piece sets a poignant and reflective poem by Sara Teasdale, which traces a journey of loss, awakening, and newfound clarity.

At the core of this piece is the piano—a voice that does not merely accompany but speaks, sings, and ultimately soars. In a rare departure from traditional choral structure, the climax of the work belongs not to the choir, but to the piano alone. This choice was made to honor Amy’s brilliance as a collaborative pianist, recognizing the quiet power and emotional depth that pianists bring to ensemble music-making. As a fellow pianist, I wept while composing that passage—thinking of all the hours spent behind the keyboard, listening, shaping, breathing with the singers. In giving the piano this moment, I hoped to echo Amy’s own musical legacy: one of beauty, strength, and selfless artistry.

Teasdale’s poem reflects Amy’s journey with grace—acknowledging loss, yet ultimately lifting its gaze to the stars. To See the Sky is both a lament and a hymn of gratitude, grounded in the earth and reaching upward, as Amy did in her life and music.