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[Choral Songs You Can Sing in English] Recommended Pieces for Choral Competitions Too!

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.
Yoga teacherYuuko.S
Nice to meet you. I’m Yuko S. I teach yoga, meditation, and Laughter Yoga Music. I offer Laughter Yoga Music because ensuring children’s psychological safety fosters the development of their brains and minds and helps them cultivate their talents. I have produced many Laughter Yoga Music recreation sessions that simply let people enjoy laughter, music, and dance—connecting India and Japan via Zoom for both children and adults. My track record includes regularly held Nerima Laughter Yoga classes, regularly held Kichijoji Laughter Yoga Music classes, and occasional Laughter Yoga Music events. I’m currently involved in various kinds of work, and as I began facing myself more deeply, I continued studying NLP—sometimes called an instruction manual for the brain and mind—as well as the deeper unconscious realms of the psyche; I now also work as a psychological therapist. I love music, too. Back in my student days, I was such a big fan of the band LÄ-PPISCH that I even joined their fan club. I was a total live-music girl, spending most of my part-time earnings on indie concert tickets, lol. I listen to music across genres, and since I’ve lived in India, I especially listen to a lot of Indian music.

While singing in English might feel a bit intimidating, many people probably still harbor a longing to try it.

In this article, we’ve selected songs from film scores and Western pop music that are perfect for choral singing in English.

It’s easy to focus on how it sounds—thinking things like “I have to get close to a native accent”—but the top priority is understanding the song and uniting with your fellow singers to create music together!

Treasure your desire to sing choral pieces in English and dive into practice.

We also touch on the meaning of the lyrics and the films in which these songs appear, so please use this as a reference.

[Choral Songs You Can Sing in English] Recommended Pieces for Choir Competitions, Too! (21–30)

Joyful JoyfulThe St. Francis Choir

Sister Act 2 – Joyful, Joyful – The St. Francis Choir – Taylor Sings

Joyful JoyfulThe St. Francis Choir

The powerful hymn “Joyful, Joyful” is based on the fourth movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No.

9.

It became famous when Lauryn Hill sang it in the 1993 film Sister Act 2.

The song itself is truly beautiful, and it would be absolutely cool to perform this hymn in a choir.

The chorus has a hip-hop flavor, and the most challenging part will require a lot of practice with the English, but the rest seems fairly singable.

It’s a song well worth the challenge.

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Soon Ah Will Be DoneWilliam Levi Dawson

Soon Ah Will Be Done (Encore)

Soon Ah Will Be DoneWilliam Levi Dawson

The impactful Black spiritual “Soon Ah Will Be Done.” It’s a choral piece by African American composer and conductor William Levi Dawson.

The lyrics sing of being taken from Africa to America and forced into hard labor.

The chorus can sound like a cry of anguish, and you might hesitate to sing it in a choir, but it’s one of the most representative and frequently performed pieces.

The English carries an African-influenced dialect, but please give it a try!

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We Are the WorldStevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder and New York crowd sing “We Are the World”,”My Cherie Amour” @ Central Park New York

We Are the WorldStevie Wonder

Here’s the song performed by USA for Africa, a project launched in 1985.

With big-name musicians like Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Billy Joel participating, it’s a moving piece where each artist sings a line and then everyone joins together in a grand chorus.

It would likely be very touching when sung as a choir as well.

Performing the solo parts with impersonations and cosplay could also be a fun and highly recommended idea.

It’s a song that parents’ generation will absolutely love, too.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Oh Happy DayThe Edwin Hawkins Singers

Oh Happy Day / Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

Oh Happy DayThe Edwin Hawkins Singers

The song “Oh Happy Day,” said to be based on an 18th-century hymn, was released in 1969 under the name The Edwin Hawkins Singers.

The chorus of this hymn is delivered in a very high falsetto! The high notes in this track, in particular, soar straight through your head and give you goosebumps, making it a must-listen.

Hymns are one of those cool choral pieces you want to take on as a challenge.

There are a cappella versions too, and with enough practice you can definitely sing it—highly recommended.

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Let It GoIdina Kim Mentzel

Idina Menzel Performs ‘Let It Go’ at Disneyland 60th Anniversary

Let It GoIdina Kim Mentzel

A song by Idina Menzel, who is active not only as a singer but also on Broadway and in films.

Featured as a musical number in Disney’s Frozen, the song—performed by Idina Menzel as the voice of Elsa—became a global sensation.

Its beautiful melody and dramatic development make it compelling as a choral piece, and it’s likely enjoyable to sing as well.

Since it’s a well-known classic, it’s also an excellent choice for competitions and contests.

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Hoshino Takashi

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