In junior high school, there are many opportunities to perform choral pieces as a class or grade.
Music classes, choir competitions, school events like entrance and graduation ceremonies, and more.
In particular, it seems that more schools are putting effort into choir competitions.
However, when you want to “deliver a highly polished performance” or “choose songs that will stand out without overlapping with other classes,” selecting the repertoire can be difficult, and many teachers likely struggle with it every year.
In this article, we’ve picked out recommended choral pieces for junior high school students.
From classics to hidden gems, we’ll introduce moving works along with videos—please use them as a reference!
[Choral Pieces] Recommended for Junior High Students! A Collection of Moving Choral Works & Choral Arrangements (1–10)
skySakushi: SKY-HI / Sakkyoku: UTA, LOAR, SKY-HI
[NHK School Choir Contest 2025 Junior High Division Set Piece] Sora [Mixed Three-Part Chorus]
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.
Mrs. GREEN APPLE – Spring Melancholy (Chorus ver.) by Waseda Jitsugyo School Music Club, Chorus Section
A heartwarming message song that accompanies the spring season, where anxiety and anticipation intertwine.
Released by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE in February 2018 ahead of graduation ceremonies—when memories from school days start to feel especially dear—this piece gently portrays the importance of human connection.
Sing it at a school or culture festival, and it will deepen the bonds with your friends.
A song created for NHK’s “18 Festival 2018” that feels destined to become a staple choral piece for future junior high students.
You can watch the program on NHK’s official YouTube channel.
It’s impossible not to be moved by the scenes where 1,000 teenagers—each bringing their own thoughts and feelings—and the three members of RADWIMPS come together as one to sing and shed tears.
The lyrics, which portray young people taking one step at a time while grappling with the worries and hazy feelings unique to adolescence, are highly relatable.
With a chorus that shines in the refrain, it’s a beautiful anthem of youth.
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.
[Choral Song] Believe — Tokyo Tama Boys and Girls Choir
This is a choral piece filled with a warm, embracing melody and deep affection.
Ryuichi Sugimoto infused the song with themes of friendship, mutual support, and hope for the future.
Overflowing with a gentle desire to stand by someone who needs encouragement, this work was released in 1998 as the ending theme for NHK’s “Ikimono Chikyū Kikō” (A Journey of Life on Earth).
Its warm lyrics and harmonies are perfect for choir competitions that aim to deepen classroom bonds or for memorable graduation ceremonies.
Sung together with friends, it becomes a piece that resonates even more deeply.
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