Blog Post 14: Black History Month
A Celebration of Black History Month
Also Featuring Three Selections from Wicked - for Woodwind Quintet
Thanks for stopping by, and welcome to my blog! I hope you had a great week. In this blog post, we are celebrating Black History Month. In particular, we will focus on Tony winner, Grammy winner, and Oscar nominee, Cynthia Erivo, the Nigerian-British actress, singer, and songwriter, who recently starred in the two Wicked movies. We are also featuring three of my “pop” arrangements from the blockbuster musical and the same movies, including: “For Good,” “One Short Day,” and “What is This Feeling? (Loathing).” Now, what is your experience with Wicked? Have you seen the Broadway musical? What about both or either movies? Share your thoughts on it in the comments below.
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Photo of Cynthia Erivo. Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
Before we continue, here are three music trivia questions to challenge you; I will reveal the answers towards the end of this blog post. These questions all stem from topics covered in this blog post; I hope you enjoy them.
First, at which famous British theatre school did Erivo receive her training?
Second, what was Erivo’s first singing role at age 5?
And third, what prestigious British honor did Erivo achieve in 2026?
Tell me your answers in the comments below, or feel free to share any other interesting musical facts you might know about Cynthia. Now, let’s continue with the topic at hand.
Cynthia Erivo
Nigerian-British actress, singer, songwriter, and producer Cynthia Onyedinamanasu Chinasaokwu Erivo was born in London in 1987. At only 39 years old, she has already won a Tony, two Grammys, a Daytime Emmy, a BET Award, a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, plus other nominations for BAFTAs, Emmys, Golden Globes, Grammys, Oscars, Tonys, and others. She is known for powerhouse performances in theater, film, on television, and in music. She is also known as a fashion icon with her trademark decorative fingernails. Erivo celebrates her Igbo heritage and cultural identity by often using her full name and by choosing meaningful roles, particularly as Celie in The Color Purple and as Harriet Tubman in Harriet.
She is a talented and powerful vocalist who has impressed audiences with her highly polished artistic performances. She is best known for her roles in Broadway musical The Color Purple, for which she won a Tony and Grammy, the Oscar- and Golden Globe-nominated film Harriet, live performances from The Kennedy Center Honors and Legendary Voices at the Proms, her Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated performance in National Geographic's Genius: Aretha Franklin, and of course, her Oscar-nominated performance as Elphaba in Wicked and Wicked: For Good.
We at CMP are pleased to celebrate Cynthia Erivo, a brilliant, talented, and thoughtful artist, and her achievements as a strong female role model, a Nigerian-British woman, and as an actress, singer, and songwriter. Also, we celebrate her humanitarian work as an ambassador for childhood literacy, refugee support, and marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ people and communities of color, which has earned her praise and admiration. Ms. Erivo has brought warmth and depth to her roles, elevating each performance with dedication, talent, class, and style.
Volle, A., & Editors, B. (2026, February 15). Cynthia Erivo | British Vogue, Oscars, Wicked, partner, biography, & facts | Britannica. Cynthia Erivo. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cynthia-Erivo
Three selections from wicked
I first heard Cynthia Erivo sing in the two Wicked movies. I was immediately impressed by her immense talent, unique style, and magnetic stage presence. Years ago, after the debut of the Broadway musical Wicked, I had written a woodwind quintet arrangement of “For Good,” but had not written other arrangements from this amazing show. When I heard Erivo sing, I decided to write three more arrangements from this musical/movie for publication, including “One Short Day,” “What Is This Feeling? (Loathing),” and also one arrangement sung by pop-star Ariana Grande, “Popular.” Ironically, “Popular” is my most popular arrangement on Sheet Music Direct and Sheet Music Plus!
These four tunes lend themselves quite well to a woodwind quintet (WQ) transcription. They are light, bouncy, and full of obbligatos and quirky lines that all work quite well for woodwinds. So, after writing “For Good,” I chose to do a WQ arrangement of “Popular,” and decided to make it a French Horn feature. My French Horn friends will either love me or hate me for this. They often complain about lousy parts in a concert band or quintet, so here is a chance for them to shine. I tried to keep the part in a comfortable range and give them a big break halfway through, so it works quite well without being too taxing. It has sold brilliantly, so I am guessing French Horn players love this piece!
I next tackled “One Short Day,” and this is a FUN piece! It has great lines for everyone, and features a toe-tapping melody sure to be a hit with audiences. This upbeat, theatrical Broadway musical number is a joy to perform, offering each player technical and rhythmic challenges while also providing beautiful rubatos. Listening to the movie soundtrack or Broadway score can help you interpret the style if you are unsure. My final arrangement for woodwind quintet from Wicked was “What Is This Feeling? (Loathing).” This number was designed as a bit of a clarinet feature, as the melody lines lay quite well for this versatile instrument. It offers a conversational interplay between parts, beautiful rubatos, and some quirky, memorable bass lines, ensuring this piece will be one of your quintet’s favorites to perform.
These four CMP arrangements are sold separately on both Sheet Music Direct and Sheet Music Plus. Unfortunately, Hal Leonard does not permit self-published medleys for this soundtrack or musical, but you can still enjoy these four arrangements on their own. Their product pages will have a complete description of style, skill level, and technical details, plus an MP3 recording of each arrangement. Also, if you would like to see score-following videos for these four pieces, check out my YouTube CMP Channel. All four tunes work perfectly for movie- or Broadway-themed programs, pops concerts, Black History Month programs, and educational outreach.
music trivia questions
First question: At which famous British theatre school did Erivo receive her training?
Cynthia Erivo received her formal training at the world-renowned Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, a conservatory that offers training in theatre, film, television, and radio. She graduated in 2010, and in 2024, she was named Vice President of RADA.
Volle, A., & Editors, B. (2026, February 15). Cynthia Erivo | British Vogue, Oscars, Wicked, partner, biography, & facts | Britannica. Cynthia Erivo. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cynthia-Erivo
Second question: What was Cynthia’s first singing role at age 5?
Cynthia’s first singing role at the age of 5 was to sing “Silent Night” in a Nativity play in her hometown of London.
Volle, A., & Editors, B. (2026, February 15). Cynthia Erivo | British Vogue, Oscars, Wicked, partner, biography, & facts | Britannica. Cynthia Erivo. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cynthia-Erivo
Third question: What prestigious British honor did Erivo achieve in 2026?
In the 2026 New Year Honours List, Erivo was named a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE), one of Britain’s highest honours. This honour was established in 1917 by King George V to reward outstanding achievements and meritorious service in arts, sciences, public service, and charity. This order has five classes: GBE: Knight or Dame Grand Cross; KBE/DBE: Knight or Dame Commander; CBE: Commander; OBE: Officer; and MBE: Member.
Volle, A., & Editors, B. (2026, February 15). Cynthia Erivo | British Vogue, Oscars, Wicked, partner, biography, & facts | Britannica. Cynthia Erivo. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cynthia-Erivo
Where can I buy digital sheet music online for the Wicked Broadway musical and films, arranged for woodwind quintet?
Craig Music Publishers!
These copyrighted arrangements are available on both Sheet Music Direct and Sheet Music Plus, along with many other of my copyrighted titles from movie soundtracks, Broadway musicals, jazz standards, pop tunes, and even video game music.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read my blog. I hope you enjoyed my musings on music. I’ll be back in two weeks with more anecdotes, memories, and passions for music. In the meantime, you can listen to my arrangement of “One Short Day” from the Broadway musical and movie Wicked by clicking on the MP3 player below. Then click here to purchase it from Sheet Music Plus. If you haven’t yet spoken up, tell me about your experiences with Wicked in the comments below. I’d love to hear about it. Thanks for stopping by. See you in my next blog!
20 February 2026
