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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 for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: 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 & Choral Arrangements (21–30)

hometownNEW!arashi

“Furusato” choral piece / Arashi / All parts / With full lyrics – for part practice Covered by Singer micah

hometownNEW!arashi

This is a J-pop ballad that expresses gratitude for the land where one was born and raised and for heartwarming original landscapes.

With its warm melody at a relaxed tempo and an arrangement that gains depth when voices are layered together, this captivating piece was performed by the national group Arashi and premiered at the 61st NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen in December 2010.

It was later selected as the set piece for the 80th NHK National School Music Competition in 2013 and used as the ending theme for the drama “Hajimari no Uta,” and it is included on the album “Japonism,” released in October 2015.

It’s recommended for moments when you want to unite hearts with your classmates while resonating with beautiful harmonies.

If you sing it on a school festival stage, it’s sure to be etched deeply in your heart as a precious memory.

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presentSEKAI NO OWARI

[Choral Song] Present / Mixed Chorus in Three Parts [With Lyrics]

presentSEKAI NO OWARI

This is a song by SEKAI NO OWARI, written as the set piece for the middle school division of the 82nd NHK All-Japan School Music Competition in 2015.

The lyrics, written by member Saori, depict feelings from youth, such as the difficulty of being honest.

If you’re performing it on a big stage like a school festival, it might be fun to go all out with a band accompaniment or add percussion and drums.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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horizonback number

[Chorus] “Horizon” by back number (Mixed 2-Part) by Manamaru × Choir Clubs of Four Junior High Schools in Kasukabe City ‘Moving’

horizonback number

Suiheisen was written for high school students aiming for the 2020 All Japan High School Athletic Meet.

It’s a song by the rock band back number, known for their popular tracks depicting romance.

With a somewhat nostalgic, warm melody that tugs at the heart, this moving message song gives courage to middle and high school students working hard in their clubs and studies.

How about performing a choral arrangement of a track by this band, which enjoys overwhelming support from teens?

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March 9Remioromen

Remioromen – March 9

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.

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MiracleGReeeeN

[Chorus Version] GReeeeN - Kiseki

MiracleGReeeeN

GReeeeN’s “Kiseki” is a song that celebrates both the “traces” of time spent together and the “miracle” of having met.

It’s perfect for performing with classmates who share school life.

With its simple melody that’s easy to memorize, it should be manageable even when you don’t have much time to practice.

Let the whole class come together, practice steadily, and create a wonderful harmony.

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Beyond the tearsShingu Auto

Hisamatsu Junior High School Chorus ~Beyond the Tears~

Beyond the tearsshingu・auto

This work offers deep comfort to young people in their adolescence who are striving to overcome past sorrows and take a new step forward.

Released in November 1969 as an original song for NHK General’s “Stage 101,” it sold 210,000 copies.

Its gentle, consoling message for troubled hearts and its beautiful harmonies are truly moving.

Conveying the importance of looking to the future with a positive spirit, this piece is perfect not only for chorus competitions but also for milestones such as the start of a new school term or the graduation season.

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to youMONGOL800

Chorus to you

to youMONGOL800

This is a song by the rock band MONGOL800.

It began to be performed as a choral piece after it was used as the final scene’s choir song in the 2008 film “Utatama♪.” It’s a song that expresses feelings for someone special and fills you with warmth.

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