When The Greatest Showman landed in cinemas, Hugh Jackman led the charge on “From Now On,” turning a narrative reckoning into a soaring, foot-stomping chorus. Taking on that kind of theatrical weight is no small task for any choir, but Chicago vocal ensemble Musicality approached the number from a completely different angle. Building on the film’s ensemble number, the group transformed the Broadway-style showstopper into a wide-open community showcase where every voice gets its moment.
Arranged and directed by Michael Gibson, the performance divides the track among seventeen credited soloists and a trio. That shared spotlight gives the piece an evolving energy, shifting through different vocal textures before uniting into a massive wall of sound. That collaborative spirit has earned the upload more than 22 million views online, proving that a group born in a high school music room could easily rival the punch of a Hollywood soundtrack.
That collective identity has been at the heart of Musicality since Gibson founded the group in 2008. Starting out at Curie High School on Chicago’s Southwest Side, the project was an unpaid extracurricular effort funded by local community support. With limited rehearsal space, the singers famously practiced around a piano parked in a school stairwell. Their dedication carried them all the way to the semifinals of America’s Got Talent in 2016, putting their tight harmonies and generous solo rotations in front of a national audience.
The ensemble has maintained an enduring connection to the music of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. According to Gibson, an earlier cover of “This Is Me” became Musicality’s first video to pass one million views, helped by film star Keala Settle sharing it online. The release of “From Now On” in 2018 came in the group’s tenth-anniversary year, marking a decade of growth from an after-school club into a citywide musical family. The track mirrors that journey, echoing the original song’s themes of returning home and recommitting to the people who matter most. That breakthrough moment came to life in this video, capturing Musicality’s collaborative performance of “This Is Me” with an arrangement led by Gibson.
Online listeners latched onto the song’s dynamic progression. Fans celebrated how each soloist brought something distinct, from rich, grounded opening verses to soaring late-song belts. One viewer remarked that a standout solo near the climax gave them shivers, adding that the singer sounded ready for a Disney film. Another commenter noted that, unlike covers that struggle to match Jackman’s presence, this arrangement delivered the energy and vocal depth that the cinematic anthem demanded.
Beyond the vocal acrobatics, the production resonated because of what the ensemble represents on screen. The video succeeds on sheer musicianship and visible camaraderie. As one fan highlighted, the only thing greater than the performance was the fact that it featured a multitude of different ethnicities and backgrounds. It turns a Hollywood finale into a genuine celebration of community and perseverance.