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

Song of Distant DaysNEW!Sakushi: Iwasawa Chihaya / Sakkyoku: Hashimoto Shōji

Song of Distant Days

A long‑loved staple of choral music, this piece features a beautiful melody crafted by lyricist Chihaya Iwasawa and composer Shoji Hashimoto.

It was produced in 1982, and in June 2008 recordings were released on educational CDs and similar media.

Inspired by Johann Pachelbel’s celebrated Canon, its gentle, nostalgic harmonic progression resonates deeply.

The concise lyrics and scat, which leave room for interpretation, quietly draw out a variety of memories and emotions in the performers.

It’s a perfect choice for moving moments when an entire class creates a unified sound, such as middle school choral competitions and graduation ceremonies.

Pegasus Galloping Through the SkyNEW!Sakushi: Tate Horai / Sakkyoku: Kurosawa Yoshinori

[Choral Piece] Pegasus Galloping Through the Sky / With Lyrics [40/200]

This is a dramatic choral piece that conjures the image of a phantom beast racing across the night sky.

The lyrics were written by Horai Tachi, and the music composed by Yoshinori Kurosawa.

Created in 1978, it continues to be chosen as a free-choice piece at many school choral festivals.

The work is somewhat challenging for choir, demanding advanced ensemble skills such as voice parts branching partway through.

There are also sections with tempo changes, bringing a pleasantly taut sense of tension for both performers and listeners.

The exhilarating sense of drive in the melody combined with its expansive worldview makes the sense of accomplishment after singing it unparalleled.

Let the entire class breathe as one and resound with a magnificent harmony.

On the day of departure…NEW!Kawashima Ai

On the Day of Departure… / Ai Kawashima [Mixed Chorus, 3 Parts]

A beautiful ballad beloved by many as a classic song to sing at graduation ceremonies.

Its clear, pure vocals and warm lyrics that evoke scenes from school life let you feel both the sadness of parting and the hope for the future at the same time.

Written by Ai Kawashima, this piece is also known as the original version of the hit single released during her time with the unit I WiSH, and it was included on a single she released as a solo artist in February 2006.

In later years, it was chosen as the theme song for the film “Tabi no Hajimari,” which closely follows the world of social care, and it is also included on the album “Thank you!” It’s a perfect song to sing with feeling at choir contests or graduation ceremonies while looking back on the precious days spent with friends.

We againNEW!SG (Sogyon)

We, Again [Chorus] / With Lyrics / Singing Practice / Graduation Song #Chorus #ClassChorus

A single with a warm message that resonates with high school students.

Created by singer-songwriter SG, who has roots in both Japan and Korea, this track was released digitally in April 2021.

Rather than portraying graduation and departures as merely sad farewells, it frames them as hopes for future reunions, making it highly recommended as a choral piece.

Its rhythm, which makes you want to clap along, is distinctive and helps you feel a sense of unity with your classmates.

In November 2024, a wind ensemble version was featured in an Otsuka Pharmaceutical commercial, becoming a hot topic.

It’s a song we’d love students to sing at major milestones in their lives—of course at graduation ceremonies, but also when retiring from club activities and other turning points.

To You — A Message for Your DepartureNEW!Sakushi Sakkyoku: Tsutsui Masako

Masako Tsutsui / To You—A Message for Your Departure—

A choral piece written and composed by Masako Tsutsui, known as a staple song passed down during graduation season.

It was originally created as a message to graduating students and later completed as the final movement of the choral suite “Goddess of Time.” Its appeal lies in its profound theme woven from dialogues across generations, imbued with hope to move forward after overcoming difficult times.

It’s perfect for singing at graduation ceremonies or competitions—the culmination of high school life—while connecting hearts with classmates.

Savor the meaning of the words and create a beautiful harmony with your irreplaceable friends.

Because we are living beingsNEW!Sakushi Sakkyoku: Nagaya Haruko

N-Con 2024 Junior High School Division, Set Piece 'Because We Are Living Beings' | Kobe City Mixed Chorus

Sung by Ryokuoushoku Shakai, this work is a digital single released in September 2024.

Haruko Nagaya, who wrote and composed the song, delivers a powerful vocal that gently accompanies anxieties about change.

The piece was specially written as the set piece for the Junior High School Division of the 91st NHK National School Music Contest.

It was also broadcast on NHK’s Minna no Uta and has become popular across generations.

The brilliant arrangement layers the band’s pop sheen with the liberating feel of choral singing.

With lyrics that affirm growth and change as a way of living, it is likely to resonate deeply with high school students who feel the wavering emotions of adolescence.

Cherry blossom seasonNEW!Lyrics by: ATSUSHI / Music by: ATSUSHI, Tatsurou Mashiko

Cherry Blossom Season / EXILE ATSUSHI

A heartwarming number composed by ATSUSHI and Tatsurou Mashiko that captures the bittersweet feelings of reaching the milestone of graduation.

It was first included on the album “Love Ballade,” released in December 2014, and was re-released as a memorial single in February 2015.

With the background of having been newly written as the set piece for the Middle School Division of the 81st NHK National School Music Competition, it’s packed with elements that are perfect for a middle school choir.

As you picture concrete scenes from school life, this piece gives you a gentle push to take your next step.

Combining the familiarity of J-POP with the grandeur of choral music, it’s also highly recommended for singing in graduation ceremony settings!