Wonderful school festival / cultural festival

[Choral Songs] Recommended for cultural and school festivals! Classic choir pieces & the latest popular songs

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

Choral performances by the choir club and whole-school or class-wide chorus numbers are staple events at cultural and school festivals.

“You want to pick popular, classic songs to get everyone hyped!”—but many of you may be struggling to find a track that really clicks.

So in this article, we’ll introduce perfect songs for cultural and school festival performances, from timeless choral standards to J-pop arranged for chorus.

Consider the performance setting and the overall vibe of the event, and choose the best song!

[Choral Songs] Recommended for school culture festivals! Classic choir pieces & the latest popular songs (21–30)

sparkleFuji Kaze

Inter-High Arts Festival Tokyo 2022: Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, August 4 – “Tabiji ~Kirari” Tokyo Performance Version

sparkleFuji Kaze

Singer-songwriter Fujii Kaze, who enjoys explosive popularity especially among younger generations.

His song Kirari is marked by its bright tone and bouncy rhythm, making it a top recommendation for choral pieces as well.

The message—“Both the shining future ahead and the varied past behind us all glimmer together”—beautifully symbolizes student youth.

Also, because the piece is highly rhythmic, adding handclaps and other accents to emphasize the beat will give it an even cooler vibe.

Definitely give it a try!

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Philosophy[Alexandros]

[Alexandros] – Philosophy (MV)

Philosophy[Alexandros]

A song produced for the 18-Fes, an event created together with 18-year-olds across the country.

In the original version by [Alexandros], the main vocals are performed by Yohei Kawakami, with the voices of 18-year-old youths also included.

While their vocals mainly serve as chorus parts supporting Kawakami’s lead, arranging it for a full choir is also recommended.

English lyrics appear as well, so there may be some challenging sections, but the lyrics, which empathize with the struggles students face, make it perfect for performances at school culture festivals and campus events.

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[Choral Songs] Recommended for cultural and school festivals! Classic choral pieces & the latest popular songs (31–40)

proofflumpool

Akashi / flumpool [Mixed Chorus, 3 Parts]

proofflumpool

This is a song flumpool wrote specifically as the set piece for the junior high school division of the 78th NHK All-Japan School Music Competition in the 2011 school year.

It has continued to be sung by junior high and high school students as a popular choral piece, so many of you have probably heard it.

The lyrics deal with familiar themes like the thoughts and worries of adolescence, making it easier to sing with emotion.

It’s said that flumpool’s Ryuta Yamamura helped teach choir during his student-teaching days, and that experience may have influenced the song.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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road; way; path; street; route; Tao (in philosophy)EXILE

Alumni Chorus 'Michi (The Road)' (Togane Municipal Togane Junior High School, 42nd Graduation Ceremony)

road; way; path; street; route; Tao (in philosophy)EXILE

This is EXILE’s 23rd single, released in 2007.

From the time it was released, it drew attention as a choral piece, and today it has firmly established itself as a graduation song sung at commencement ceremonies.

It is included in music textbooks and continues to be sung in various places, so there’s no doubt it can be performed not only during the graduation season but also at cultural festivals and choir festivals.

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Country RoadHon’na Yoko

[Choral Version] Country Road

Country RoadHon'na Yoko

Known as the theme song of Whisper of the Heart, this piece is filled with a warmth that gently embraces the listener.

Its lyrics carefully weave the feelings of a young person setting off from their hometown to walk their own path in life, resonating with each listener’s own journey and offering a gentle push forward.

Released in June 1995, the song initially struggled to gain traction, but went on to become a long-running hit.

It was re-released in 2000 and 2004, and has since become recognized, in both name and reality, as an enduring classic.

It is also popular as a choral piece, making it a perfect choice for milestone events like graduation ceremonies and school festivals, where people set out into new worlds.

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JupiterHirahara Ayaka

Jupiter Men and Women.com

JupiterHirahara Ayaka

Ayaka Hirahara covered Gustav Holst’s classical masterpiece “Jupiter” with Japanese lyrics, and its lyrics and musical tone evoke an impressive, grand world.

The climactic moment—sung in a mixed four-part chorus with its magnificent scale—is sure to be overwhelming and deeply moving.

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threadNakajima Miyuki

Thread – Miyuki Nakajima (Full)

threadNakajima Miyuki

At a school festival that draws visitors from a wide range of age groups, you’ll want to choose songs that are popular with everyone, regardless of age or gender.

For those looking for such a song, I recommend Miyuki Nakajima’s “Ito.” As one of Japan’s most iconic singers, Miyuki Nakajima is beloved across generations.

The song itself is also very well-known, making it a perfect choice for a choral performance at a school festival.

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