This powerful piece began as a project by songwriter Liv Grace. In 2021, National Concerts commissioned this SSAA arrangement for the Western ACDA treble honor choir, and composer Grace Brigham was brought on board. “Hear Me Roar” is a prophetic cry for justice, and a dramatic show-stopper.

Olivia Grace Brown (aka Liv Grace) is a composer, lyricist, and emerging recording artist from Dallas residing in the Washington, D.C. area. She is an English major with a minor in Music Composition at Oakwood University, and she is also a vocalist in the award-winning Aeolians college choir. Liv Grace began her music career writing, arranging, and performing the social justice anthem— Hear Me Roar—which she penned during her senior year in high school in response to the devastating murder of George Floyd. Her work is gaining increased attention in social media, urban contemporary, and choral music spaces. Some of her accomplishments include being a National Concerts commissioned artist and guest performer at the ACDA* Western Region Conference (2022)and being interviewed in the Washington Post following her Juneteenth performance (2022). She also had the pleasure of exhibiting as a featured artist at the D.C. Underground Arts Festival (2021), performing two of her pieces—Liberated and Melanin—on the Freedom Future Collectives album (2021), and releasing several singles on multiple digital platforms. Liv Grace remains active in the arts, where she most enjoys using her voice and rich harmonic arrangements to inspire freedom of thought, body, and spirit as an artistic advocate of social justice for all.

Composer’s Notes

This is a protest–a cry for justice and equality! In this piece, bring the rhythm and soul that has energized people of col- or throughout history. Internalize the meaning and the feel- ing behind the words you are singing. Know who you’re singing for–the beautiful souls who have lost their lives to police brutality–whose dreams were cut short. Every name in this score belongs to a son or daughter, a mother or father…a real person. I encourage you to choose one, or two, or three and read about them. Humanize them. Sing for them and for those who share their pain. Every time you perform this work, you are contributing to a move- ment. Through harmony, you are giving a voice to those who have been silenced. Memorize the notes and lyrics so you can sing from your soul with pathos and passion. As you learn the body percussion, imagine yourself march- ing through the streets, in unity, standing up for what you believe in. Let the audience feel your power through every note, percussion, and moment of silence. And know that there are many fighting alongside you, including me.
– Liv Grace (2022)

Text

Say Their Names (2020):
1. ERIC GARNER
2. JOHN CRAWFORD III
3. MICHAEL BROWN
4. EZELL FORD
5. DANTE PARKER
6. MICHELLE CUSSEAUX
7. LAQUAN MCDONALD
8. GEORGE MANN
9. TANISHA ANDERSON
10. AKAI GURLEY
11. TAMIR RICE
12. RUMAIN BRISBON
13. JERAME REID
14. MATTHEW AJIBADE
15. FRANK SMART
16. NATASHA MCKENNA
17. TONY ROBINSON
18. ANTHONY HILL
19. MYA HALL
20. PHILLIP WHITE
21. ERIC HARRIS
22. WALTER SCOTT
23. WILLIAM CHAPMAN
24. ALEXIA CHRISTIAN
25. BRENDON GLENN
26. VICTOR MANUEL LAROSA
27. JONATHAN SANDERS
28. FREDDIE BLUE
29. JOSEPH MANN
30. SALVADO ELLSWOOD
31. SANDRA BLAND
32. ALBERT JOSEPH DAVIS
33. DARRIUS STEWART
34. BILLY RAY DAVIS
35. SAMUEL DUBOSE
36. MICHAEL SABBIE
37. BRIAN KEITH DAY
38. CHRISTIAN TAYLOR
39. TROY ROBINSON
40. ASSHAMS PHAROAH MANLEY
41. FELIX KUMI
42. KEITH HARRISON MCLEOD
43. JUNIOR PROSPER
44. LAMONTEZ JONES
45. PATERSON BROWN
46. DOMINIC HUTCHINSON
47. ANTHONY ASHFORD
48. ALONZO SMITH
49. TYREE CRAWFORD
50. INDIA KAGER
51. LA’VANTE BIGGS
52. MICHAEL LEE MARSHALL
53. JAMAR CLARK
54. RICHARD PERKINS
55. NATHANIEL HARRIS PICKETT
56. BENNI LEE TIGNOR
57. MIGUEL ESPINAL
58. MICHAEL NOEL
59. KEVIN MATTHEWS
60. BETTIE JONES
61. QUINTONIO LEGRIER
62. KEITH CHILDRESS JR.
63. JANET WILSON
64. RANDY NELSON
65. ANTRONIE SCOTT
66. WENDELL CELESTINE
67. DAVID JOSEPH
68. CALIN ROQUEMORE
69. DYZHAWN PERKINS
70. CHRISTOPHER DAVIS
71. MARCO LOUD
72. PETER GAINES
73. TORREY ROBINSON
74. DARIUS ROBINSON
75. KEVIN HICKS
76. MARY TRUXILLO
77. DEMARCUS SEMER
78. WILLIE TILLMAN
79. TERRILL THOMAS
80. SYLVILLE SMITH
81. ALTON STERLING
82. PHILANDO CASTILE
83. TERENCE CRUTCHER
84. PAUL O’NEAL
85. ALTERIA WOODS
86. JORDAN EDWARDS
87. AARON BAILEY
88. RONELL FOSTER
89. STEPHON CLARK
90. ANTWON ROSE II
91. BOTHAM JEAN
92. PAMELA TURNER
93. DOMINIQUE CLAYTON
94. ATATIANA JEFFERSON
95. CHRISTOPHER WHITFIELD
96. CHRISTOPHER MCCORVEY
97. ERIC REASON
98. MICHAEL LORENZO DEAN
99. BREONNA TAYLOR
100. GEORGE FLOYD