A Must-See for Middle and High Schoolers! Recommended Free-Choice Songs for Choir Competitions Catalog
The choir competitions held at schools every year.
Many junior and senior high school students look forward to working together as one class, don’t they? Still, the big headache is choosing the repertoire.
It’s often said that, especially in choir competitions, the choice of the free piece can greatly affect the results.
That’s why there are many points to consider, such as “a piece that won’t overlap with other classes” or “a song that’s topical yet can be polished to a high level.” In this article, we’ll introduce recommended pieces for junior and senior high school choirs.
We’ve picked not only the classics but also rarer choices for choir, like Western pop and Vocaloid songs, so you can find the perfect piece for your class.
- [Choral Music] Recommended for Middle Schoolers! A Collection of Moving Choral Works & Choral Arrangements
- Ranking of Popular Choral Songs [2026]
- [For Junior High School Chorus] A Curated Selection of Challenging Popular Works and Classic Songs
- [Choral Songs] Recommended for High School Students! A Comprehensive Showcase from Classics to the Newest J‑Pop
- [Choral Songs] Recommended for cultural and school festivals! Classic choir pieces & the latest popular songs
- [2026] Let's Sing at the Chorus Competition! A Roundup of Recommended Western Songs
- [For Female Choir] Carefully Selected Heartfelt Recommendations & Women's Choir Arrangements
- [Choral Piece] High Difficulty! A selection of works that are hard to sing
- [Middle School Students] Popular Songs Ranking by Generation [2026]
- [Choral Songs You Can Sing in English] Recommended Pieces for Choral Competitions Too!
- [Elementary School Chorus Songs] A comprehensive showcase from moving masterpieces to the latest hit tunes!
- [High School Students] Popular Songs Ranking by Generation [2026]
- Songs popular among junior high school students. Also songs trending on social media.
[Choral Pieces] Recommended for Junior High Students! A Collection of Moving Choral Works & Choral Arrangements (1–10)
Mysteries of the Seasakushi: Kawasaki Hiroshi / sakkyoku: Hirayoshi Takushu
This choral piece brilliantly captures the vastness and mystery of the sea.
Its wave-like, undulating melodies and harmonies are striking, and the lyrics—woven with references to the coelacanth, the Mariana Trench, and Ryukyuan legends—invite listeners into the ocean’s wondrous realm.
Selected as the set piece for the 1989 NHK All-Japan School Music Competition (Junior High Division), it continues to be featured in choral competitions nationwide as a “high-difficulty” work.
Let’s practice together and bring to life a grand drama of the sea.
[Choral Songs] Recommended for Junior High Students! A Collection of Moving Choral Works & Choral Arrangements (11–20)
Become a flowerLyrics: Ikuya Sashida ・ jam / Composition: Ikuya Sashida ・ Toshiyuki Mori
This is a ballad characterized by a gentle, translucent melody and the warm timbre of the piano.
Released in June 2012, it was chosen as the theme song for the NHK BS Premium period drama “Hidamari no Ki.” It also drew attention when figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu used it for his exhibition program.
The piece shines in women’s chorus as well, where its delicate harmonies and graceful melody highlight the soft beauty of female voices.
It’s an ideal choice for groups looking to take on choral singing.
To the futuresakushi: tanikawa shuntarō/ sakkyoku: nobunaga takatomi
A choral piece by Shuntaro Tanikawa and Takatsugu Nobunaga whose calm yet powerful melody resonates in the heart.
With delicate word choices and beautiful harmonies, it delves deeply into reflections on life and the future.
Included on the album “Kanashimi wa Atarashii,” the work was premiered in June 2009 at the 45th Anniversary Special Regular Concert of the Saitama Prefectural Omiya High School Music Club.
Frequently performed at school choir competitions and regular concerts, it is highly regarded as a piece well-suited for women’s choirs.
Peace on EarthSakushi: Tsurumi Masao / Sakkyoku: Ogikubo Kazuaki
A choral piece imbued with prayers for peace.
Its beautiful melody, quietly poised yet brimming with strength, and its rich harmonies fill the hall with emotion when sung with care, as if conveying heartfelt wishes.
As symbolized by the title, which means “Peace on Earth” in Latin, the work carries a universal message hoping for a world free of war and conflict.
Performed by choirs in various regions since the late 1990s and featured at peace memorial events and music festivals, it is a perfect piece for intermediate to advanced choral singers.
Come, spring.Matsutōya Yumi
A timeless masterpiece by Yumi Matsutoya that gently embraces nostalgic memories and bittersweet farewells.
The lyrics, woven with feelings for someone dear, resonate deeply with listeners.
Released in October 1994 and used as the theme song for an NHK morning drama series, this piece is also highly popular as a choral work and cherished by many women’s choirs.
It’s perfect for choral performances at school events such as graduation ceremonies.
Clear voices and beautiful harmonies will fill the venue with a warm atmosphere.
footprint(s)Little Glee Monster
A song that deeply empathizes with junior high school students, this work was crafted with great care as the members wrote the lyrics while recalling their own middle school experiences.
Its gentle melody embraces the worries, anxieties, and hopes of the younger generation, resonating in the heart.
Released in September 2020 as Little Glee Monster’s 16th single and also included in their best-of album GRADATI∞N, the song was chosen as the set piece for the junior high school division of the NHK All-Japan School Music Competition in 2020 and 2021, and was also broadcast on NHK’s Minna no Uta.
It’s an excellent choice not only for performing as a choral piece but also for enjoying the joy of singing together with friends and peers.
[Choral Piece] Recommended for High School Students! From Classics to the Newest J (1–10)
threadNakajima Miyuki
A gem of a masterpiece by Miyuki Nakajima that beautifully depicts encounters and bonds between people.
The lyrics liken the chance and fated meetings in life to “threads,” deeply moving listeners’ hearts.
Released in October 1992 as a track on the album EAST ASIA, it was later selected as the theme song for a TBS drama in 1998.
Bank Band’s 2004 cover brought the song to a wider audience.
In 2020, it was adapted into a film starring Masaki Suda and Nana Komatsu.
It is also a work that can weave a splendid harmony in women’s chorus.