Need fresh holiday concert ideas for younger voices? We’ve got you covered! Whether you’re planning a Christmas carol sing-along for a school assembly or a winter concert filled with snow songs, J.W. Pepper has the perfect music for your elementary and middle school choirs.
A Wreath of Holiday Chorals
Greg Gilpin
Fun and festive, this diverse collection contains seven reproducible selections for Christmas, Hanukkah, and December holidays, carefully arranged to be sung in unison or with an optional second part. In addition to the physical book, the collection is also completely digital, granting permission to print the entire book or singer-only PDF parts for use year after year. Full performance and accompaniment MP3s are included as are part-dominant recordings to help with individual learning. Whether you incorporate one or all of the selections, you will love the versatility and quality of this budget-stretching resource! A holiday must-have!
Starts at 0:44
Keresimesi Odun De O
arr. Andy Beck
Bright and joyful, this Christmas song comes from the Yoruba-speaking region of Nigeria. Perfect for choirs of all ages and sizes, this a cappella treatment features rich stacked harmonies, optional solos, and lively percussion parts characteristic of traditional Yoruba music.
Starts at 1:55
Fum, Fum, Fum
arr. Audrey Snyder
Bright and festive, this classic Catalan Christmas carol arrangement sparkles with joy and excitement – and it’s fun to sing! An original layering bridge complements the traditional carol verses, and with English text throughout it is easily learned and very effectively performed.
Starts at 2:45
(More) Christmas in About Three Minutes
arr. Mark Weston
A follow-up to the beloved classic Christmas… In About Three Minutes, this sequel medley contains different songs – and just as much fun! As with the first, this clever arrangement is filled to the brim with engaging variety and clever part writing. Brimming with possibilities for audience engagement, this is sure to be a highlight in your winter concert!
Starts at 3:33
Dormi
arr. Tim Winebrenner
Medieval Latin text about the first Christmas is set as a gentle lullaby in this arrangement of a traditional Chilean folk song. The simple yet beautiful melody is accompanied by an elegant piano part and a stunning cello obbligato. Add guitar for even more of an authentic feel.
Starts at 4:19
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
J. Fred Coots/arr. Tim Hayden
Welcome in the season with this high-powered arrangement of Mariah Carey’s rendition of this holiday classic, complete with a bright rock-shuffle feel, those signature piano triplets, and punchy, accented vocals. It’s an electrifying opener or closer, particularly with the excellent parts for your jazz combo.
Starts at 5:10
I’ll Know It’s Christmas
Pinkzebra
A tender and reaffirming song with a powerful message: that the holiday spirit resides within us and can endure life’s changes or difficult times – the spirit of Christmas remains even then. Inspirational and sentimental, it will surely resonate with your singers and your audience.
Starts at 6:05
Sizalelwe Indodana
arr. Victor C. Johnson
Bring the spirit of celebration to life with this arrangement of a traditional South African carol that can be sung for Christmas or at any time of year. With its infectious rhythms, rich harmonies, and dynamic call-and-response sections, it is accessibly arranged so that any choir can enjoy it. It also includes notated parts for optional percussion and clapping patterns as well as with a pronunciation guide and translation for the brief isiZulu text.
Starts at 7:06
A Winter Warning
Kara Stacy Bedwell
“Winter comes with the ice and snow, winter comes for to lay them low.” With a haunting central melody, this original cumulative song captures both the beauty and danger of winter from the perspective of the animals in the forest. Upbeat and syncopated with a minor-key setting, it’s easily learned with plenty of unison lines and well-placed harmonies.
Starts at 8:18
One More Sleep ‘Til Christmas
Paul Williams/arr. Cristy Cary Miller
From “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” this charming song captures the anticipation of Christmas day. Syncopated melodic lines and heartwarming harmonies make this a spirited selection for holiday concerts and winter performances.
Starts at 9:06
Snow
Teresa Jennings
A real student favorite, the challenge of this song is the exciting rhythms. Starting in unison, an optional second part enters midway – but you will definitely want to add it! Though you can perform it a cappella, the instrumental tracks are delightfully minimalistic, giving singers a chance to show off their vocal skills, musicianship, and handclapping! The track is sold separately.
Starts at 9:58
We Wish You a Merry Christmas/Christmas Is Here
arr. Masa Fukuda
Full of excitement and joy, this mashup of the classic We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a fresh new song takes the listener back to the sights and sounds of a traditional Christmas. The solo part can be sung in unison, while the descant beautifully complements the melody.
Starts at 10:44
