For years, music directors and performers have relied on Editors’ Choice – our annual list of the best-of-the-best new selections for the season – to narrow down their search for new performance repertoire. For the fourth year running, we opened up the polls to our directors across the country: we wanted to know which of the newest Editors’ Choice selections were your favorites.
In addition to sharing your top picks, we asked for a short comment explaining what you love about each piece: what excites you about the music, how you intend to use it with your ensemble, your impression of the composer, and any other relevant comments.
We hope that the lists of winners and honorable mentions along with the insightful comments will help directors everywhere with their repertoire selections this year!
Here are the most popular 2025-2026 titles for each ensemble:
School Choral
Winner: A Choir’s Guide to Surviving Music Theory
by Aaron Gage
Honorable Mentions:
Bill Grogan’s Goat – Jordan Ricks
“This piece is adorable! Great fun for beginning boys choirs, easy to use this piece to teach ending consonants, releases, and it give both parts the opportunity to sing both melody and harmony.” – Jon, TX
Go The Distance/Defying Gravity – arr. Roger Emerson
“Bought and taught to college students! Beautiful composition! My students did a great job with it!” – Lauren, AL
Concert Band
Winner: Let The Earth Hear His Voice
by Rob Blankenship
“This piece is a reimagining of a beautiful hymn. It is dynamic, joyful, and reverent and worth being in every concert band’s repertoire!” – Tracie, VA
“Rob’s music just has a way of touching your soul! I absolutely love his pieces and recommend it to everyone to play with their ensembles.” – Caitlin, TX
“Beautifully written.” – Meredith, FL
Honorable Mention:
Fanfare And Gambol – David Carbone
“I recently read this composition with a community band that I conduct. The members of the band are aged anywhere from 21 to mid-60s. Everyone really enjoyed playing the composition, it’s fun yet challenging to play. More importantly, it is fun to listen to. It is very accessible for most musicians and what is really excellent about the piece is that it sounds more difficult than it is.” – Greg, OH
Airwaves – Joseph Benjamin Earp
“The sound effects made throughout the music are immersive and provide novelty for instrumentalists and audience members alike!” – Mary Beth, MS
Orchestra
Winner: Koythu Pattu
by Manjula Ramachandran & Cooper Ford
“Very peppy and rhythmic song that increases cultural awareness. I love the jumpy feel of the song and how it can make someone want to get up and dance!” – Harshini, NJ
“I’m voting for “Koythu Pattu” because its lively rhythms and call-and-response style make it musically exciting, while the celebratory spirit of the harvest theme brings warmth and joy to the performance. The way the piece builds with energy and concludes so powerfully makes it both rewarding to play and moving to experience. It’s an innovative work that offers a valuable learning experience and is simply a great listen!” – Jahnavi, NJ
“Koythu Paatu, by Manjula Ramachandran and Cooper Ford, is a refreshing and exciting addition to the educational repertoire. What makes this work stand out is its grounding in the Carnatic music tradition, offering young string players the opportunity to step into a sound world that many may not otherwise encounter in their musical studies.” – Aline, TX
Honorable Mention:
Daybreak – Daniel Keeler
“The harmonies are beautiful and rich! The hooked bowing and part independence are great, especially given that every instrument gets the melody. It is nice to have a light piece in a major key to contrast the may brooding pieces out there. Fun piece all around!” – Dan, MN
Droid Funk – Dylan Fixmer
“Outstanding cross-genre piece that is fun, accessible and a wonderful way for students to learn to improvise!” – Sarah, CO
Bear on the Square – Perry Holbrook
“It’s the perfect piece for teaching at the square bowing to first year players and it’s really catchy!” – Sara, GA
Jazz Ensemble
Winner: Danger Island!
by Rich Woolworth
“What a cool chart! Sounds like a brassy jazzy adventure serial and will no doubt be a fun change of pace for the students and the audience!” – Michael, NC
“It’s fun and different!” – Jean, WI
Honorable Mention:
Angels We Have Heard Can Salsa – Erik Sherburne
“I love jazz.” – Anjali, HI
Boss City – arr. Mike Kamuf
“Just a great piece written in a way that a middle school band could play it but features a great jazz ensemble sound.” – Chris, CA
Cats & Rabbits – Rich Woolworth
“It’s a fun chart!” – Rich, WI
Church Choral
Winner: Praise Him! Praise Him!
arr. Scott Cumberbatch
“The song has a meaning that stirs my soul. It’s empowering. It’s personal. It’s emotional. Well done!” – Yvette, NJ
“Excellent arrangement that holds the sacred integrity of the hymn.” – Joe, NJ
“From the time I first heard this piece performed until now, it still gives fills my heart with so much joy!” – Alton, LA
Honorable Mentions:
Hold Me, Savior – arr. Lloyd Larson
“Superb and meaningful text for young and old; paired with a memorable melody that is effectively arranged for volunteer church choir with optional full orchestration.” Fred, SC
Ten Thousand Charms – Sean Paul
“Perfect for any choir.” – Caryl, OK
Handbells
Honorable Mention:
A New Day 3-7 Octaves – Caleb J. Onstead
“A prime example of late-intermediate festival repertoire that is appropriate for 3-7 oct. groups.” – Caleb, PA
Thanksgiving Suite – Kurt Meyer
“A musically pleasing arrangement that will satisfy ringers and add to the festival spirit of Thanksgiving.” – Gene, MI
Looking for more best of the best repertoire? You can find Directors’ Vote results from the past four years on our blog, Cued In.
