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[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 Music] Recommended for Junior High Students! A Collection of Moving Choral Works & Arrangements (91–100)

Come, spring.Matsutōya Yumi

Yumi Matsutoya / Haru yo, Koi (Women’s chorus Coro CARINE by students of Osaka College of Music)

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.

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budKobukuro

Wakayama Prefectural Tanabe High School Choir – (8) Tsubomi

budKobukuro

Released in March 2007 as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad,” this Kobukuro track powerfully portrays the bond with a mother.

Set to a warm, acoustic guitar–driven sound, it expresses both the sense of loss after losing someone dear and the strength to overcome it.

It won the 49th Japan Record Award, and in March 2008 it was selected as the entrance march for the opening ceremony of the 80th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament, earning widespread affection.

It’s a song that resonates in memorable moments like school festivals and graduation ceremonies.

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DepartureMatsushita Kou

[N-Con 2018] The 85th NHK All-Japan School Choir Competition, Ishimine Elementary School – Set Piece 'Departure'

DepartureMatsushita Kou

This piece was selected as the set song for the junior high school division of the 85th NHK All-Japan School Music Competition.

It sings directly about the conflicts and uncertainties of adolescence.

Adults who listen will be able to reflect on their own younger days and relate to it, while children who listen may feel at ease, as if they can open up about their worries.

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Let me have that wonderful love once moreKato Kazuhiko

That wonderful love once more

Let me have that wonderful love once moreKato Kazuhiko

When it comes to the song with lyrics by Osamu Kitayama and music by Kazuhiko Kato—also beloved as a choral piece—you’re probably thinking of The Folk Crusaders’ “Ano Subarashii Ai wo Mou Ichido” (“Let That Wonderful Love Come Once More”).

Released in 1971, it reached No.

10 on the Oricon singles chart and has been covered by countless artists.

It even appeared in junior high school music textbooks, making it a staple for choral competitions.

Thanks to its simple, easy-to-remember melody, it’s a classic known across generations, so audiences at choral contests are likely to find it familiar!

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In conclusion

We introduced recommended choral pieces for junior high school students.

Once you use this article to choose songs that your class or entire grade can sing with enthusiasm, all that’s left is to practice! Enjoy the days leading up to the performance, and let’s create a wonderful, memorable chorus together.