Wonderful school festival / cultural festival

[Choral Music] Recommended for Middle Schoolers! A Collection of Moving Choral Works & Choral Arrangements

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.

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 Works] Recommended for Junior High Students! A Collection of Moving Choral Pieces & Choral Arrangements (61–70)

FateOfisharu Higedan Dism

EMG3-0223 Destiny / Official HIGE DANDism [Mixed 3-Part Chorus]

FateOfisharu Higedan Dism

Official HIGE DANDism’s “Shukumei,” which was the support song for high school baseball in 2019, is also great for choral performance.

As part of a project by the popular teen radio show “SCHOOL OF LOCK!,” a brass band arrangement of “Shukumei” was produced, and the chorus featuring 34 high school students gathered from across the country was recorded.

With lyrics filled with passion and a powerful, energetic sound, it’s a perfect fit for junior high school students in their youth.

How about performing it at a chorus contest or a school festival?

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Please give me wingsSakushi: Yamagami Michio, Sakkyoku: Murai Kunihiko

Tsuda Gakuen Elementary School — “Tsubasa wo Kudasai”

Please give me wingsSakushi: Yamagami Michio, Sakkyoku: Murai Kunihiko

Hasn’t everyone sung it at least once? “Tsubasa wo Kudasai” is one of the standard choral pieces.

With its relaxed, mid-tempo melody, it’s exceptionally easy to sing in a choir.

In the chorus, enjoy the blend between soprano and alto as the song swells.

The lyrics are also highly literary and appealing, so if you sing while reflecting on their meaning, it will surely bring out even more depth.

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To the EarthLyrics and Composition: Hanzaki Yoshiko

Yoshiko Hanzaki “To the Earth – Chorus ver. – Elementary School Students (Kansai University Elementary School Choir)” MUSIC VIDEO

To the EarthComposer · Composition: Hanzaki Yoshiko

A grand ballad themed around environmental issues and love for our planet.

Misako Hanazaki’s clear, translucent vocals, together with the gentle tones of piano and strings, envelop the listener’s heart.

Released as a digital-only single in November 2021 and later included on the August 2022 album “Utaben 3,” this piece has, since 2024, been featured in fifth-grade music textbooks and cherished as a choral song in elementary schools across Japan.

Combined with children’s pure voices, it offers listeners a chance to reflect on the preciousness of the Earth.

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To the futureNobunaga Taketomi

"To the Future" (Mixed Chorus, Four Parts) by Takafumi Nobunaga

To the futureNobunaga Taketomi

“Mirai e” (To the Future) is included in the mixed-chorus collection Kanashimi wa Atarashii, with lyrics by Shuntaro Tanikawa and music by Takafumi Nobunaga.

The lyrics, which liken the future to a blue sky, leave a strong impression.

There are relatively simple two-part same-voice and mixed four-part arrangements, so you can choose according to your level.

The middle section also features a showcase for the piano, making it a rewarding piece to play for accompanists as well.

It’s a work that lets you feel the flow of time from past to present, and from present to future—be sure to give it a try!

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flameLiSA

Toin Gakuen Elementary School Choir – From Demon Slayer: Choral “Homura” – The First Take

flameLiSA

The song Homura by LiSA was chosen as the theme song for the film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train, based on the manga Kimetsu no Yaiba, which became a historic blockbuster and social phenomenon in 2020.

Homura swept the Billboard charts and won the 62nd Japan Record Award.

It’s a powerful ballad that’s hugely popular with children and is also gaining traction for choral performances.

Competition to choose it may be fierce, but if you can sing it, you’re sure to stand out.

Be sure to practice well and try performing it at events like cultural festivals or welcome ceremonies for new students!

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knot; tie; bind; concludemiwa

miwa / Yui (Bond)

knot; tie; bind; concludemiwa

A heartwarming ballad themed around human connections and bonds.

Chosen as the set piece for the junior high school category of the NHK National School Music Competition, this work showcases Miwa’s delicate sensibilities.

Its simple yet powerful melody and her warm vocals weave a gentle worldview that moves listeners’ hearts.

It was performed at the 67th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen in collaboration with the Kumamoto City Obiyama Junior High School Choir, leaving a deep impression on many.

Designed with junior high school vocal ranges in mind, it’s perfect for choir competitions and school events.

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To the futureKiroro

EMG3-0018 To the Future / Kiroro [Mixed 3-Part Chorus]

To the futureKiroro

This song is captivating for its warm melody and heartfelt lyrics themed around a mother’s message to her child and hope for the future.

It’s also known as a piece that Chiharu Tamashiro composed when she was in her third year of junior high school, after seeing her mother catch a cold and worrying it might be something serious, prompting her to express her gratitude.

Released in June 1998 by the duo Kiroro, the song drew renewed attention in 2020 when Shuzo Matsuoka performed it for P&G’s “Bridge of Thoughts Project” commercial.

Beyond being a staple for school culture festivals and graduation ceremonies, its depiction of the quiet, watchful gaze that nurtures the parent–child bond and growth has also made it a popular choice to dedicate to parents at weddings.

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