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.
Recommended choral pieces for junior high school students (1–10)
Let’s search for tomorrowSakushi: Hori Tetsu sakushi, sakkyoku: Osawa Tetsunori
One of the choral standards, “Let’s Search for Tomorrow.” It’s a bright choral piece filled with hope and dreams for tomorrow.
The melody jumps up in the chorus, so try singing with the image of your voice stretching upward.
With many repeated phrases and an easy-to-follow rhythm, it’s also recommended for those who aren’t confident singers.
It’s a piece that evokes a sense of anticipation for the future to come.
DarlingMrs. GREEN APPLE
With vocals that gently embrace the doubts and struggles of youth and a message that invites you to rediscover your true self, this is an empowering anthem that resonates deeply.
Created as the theme song for NHK General’s “Mrs.
GREEN APPLE 18 Festival” in December 2024, its performance alongside 1,000 members of the 18-year-old generation became a major talking point.
Celebrating the beauty of being your authentic self, this piece is perfect for school choir performances.
Mrs.
GREEN APPLE’s catchy melodies and warm lyrics are sure to bring everyone’s hearts together.
Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro
Hata Motohiro’s song, written specifically as the theme for a 3DCG animated film, is a moving piece that sings of an unending bond of love.
The gentle tones of the acoustic guitar and his clear, transparent vocals softly embrace the heart.
Released as a single in August 2014, it reached No.
4 on the Oricon Daily Ranking and earned a million-download certification for the single track, capturing the hearts of many.
Perfectly in harmony with the movie’s theme, this work resonates across time as a classic, making it ideal for choral performance.
It’s highly recommended for school events and gatherings where you want to deepen the bonds among friends.
Recommended choral pieces for junior high school students (11–20)
skySakushi: SKY-HI / Sakkyoku: UTA, LOAR, SKY-HI
A song by SKY-HI released in 2025 as the compulsory piece for the NHK All-Japan School Music Competition, Junior High School Division.
Featuring a warm, piano-driven melody and lyrics that convey a message to today’s youth who grapple with anxiety and inner conflict, this piece leaves a strong impression.
Arranged for choir by Masanori Kato, it is structured to be easy for middle school students to sing.
It’s an encouraging anthem that gives listeners the courage to move forward with their friends—without hiding their vulnerabilities or worries, and while embracing their true selves.
Be sure to check out the BE:FIRST version as well, which offers a different vibe.
14-fourteen-Sakushi Sakkyoku: Yugeda Kensuke
This choral piece is filled with kindness that closely attends to the feelings of junior high school students.
It carefully depicts the anxieties, hopes, and growth of students turning 14 at the height of adolescence.
Along with its warm, heartfelt melody, the work carries a message that resonates with junior high schoolers.
It was included in 2020 in Education Art Co.’s music textbook for fourth-grade elementary students and has earned high praise in educational settings.
Ideal for moments when you want to sing as one—such as choir competitions and graduation ceremonies—this piece is perfect for deepening class bonds.
See?Sakushi: Itou Keiji/Sakki: Matsushita Kou
This is a heartwarming choral piece born as part of the “Sing NIPPON Project,” which was launched to support recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Created through a collaboration between Keiji Ito and Ko Matsushita and released in July 2011, the work gently sings of the harmony of nature and the bonds between people.
Its friendly melody brings listeners comfort and hope, and its structure makes it easy to perform even for school class choirs.
The vocal range is not very wide, making it a practical choice for choral competitions as well.
March 9Remioromen
A song marked by lyrics full of kindness and a memorable melody.
Created to celebrate a member’s friend’s wedding, it gently portrays moments that evoke the changing seasons and feelings of gratitude toward loved ones.
The transition from a calm tone to a soaring chorus showcases Remioromen’s signature delicacy of expression.
Released in March 2004, the song drew wide attention as an insert track in the Fuji TV drama “1 Litre of Tears.” It’s a moving piece often performed at important gatherings—such as choirs and graduation ceremonies—where people come together.