Scott Hoying of Grammy Award-winning a cappella group Pentatonix and his husband Mark Hoying have released their second album of children’s music, and this one celebrates the arrival of their first daughter, Birdie, in June 2026. Listen to it here!
“Little Birdie’s Big Symphony” opens with the overture “Welcome Home,” which includes an audio clip of Birdie herself on the day she was born. That audio is then woven into the next track, “Hello, My Baby Birdie!”
The Hoyings focus on parenthood and family with “Dad 2 U,” which began as Scott’s attempt to write Birdie a personal letter, according to publicity materials. “Pretty Little Baby” includes a verse in Tagalog to honor Mark’s and Birdie’s Filipino roots. The duo also cover the classic “Hush Little Baby,” adding in “a hidden bird reference,” while “Sleepyhead Symphony,” created with composer and orchestrator Cheryl Engelhardt, with additional orchestration from A.J. Sealy, incorporates musical elements from throughout the album.
The concept of family is tied to community through a number of collaborations. The delightfully silly and catchy “The Flamingo Song” features children’s music pioneers Trout Fishing in America, who inspired Scott himself at age six to become a touring musician. Christina Perri, who officiated and performed at Scott and Mark’s wedding, joins the Hoyings on “Landslide,” the first song Scott ever sang to Birdie. Longtime friend Kina Grannis appears on “Lullaby (Close Your Eyes),” written by Trout Fishing in America. The upbeat “Happy Dance” features Grammy winners Fyütch and Lucy Kalantari, plus Grammy nominees Mega Ran and DJ Willy Wow.
My only small criticism is that “Happy Dance” is the final song on the album; parents playing the album as a bedtime listen will likely want to create their own playlist and put this danceable track earlier in the list, then end with one of the slower bedtime tunes. Otherwise, your kids may still be dancing on their beds after lights out.
Like the duo’s earlier children’s album, M.Y. F.A.M.I.L.Y., the music has a depth not always found in children’s music; some songs evoke Scott’s a cappella roots while others include well-crafted instrumentation. There’s nothing specifically “queer” about any of the songs, such as a mention of Birdie having two dads, but queer parents are likely to have a particular fondness for this album created by a two-dad couple, even as it has a broad appeal for families of many types.
Listen below, or on your favorite streaming service.