Choosing repertoire for your high school choir can feel like juggling artistry, pedagogy, and practicality all at once. You want music that inspires your students, teaches solid choral skills, and speaks to audiences—but that also fits within your choir’s vocal range, musicianship level, and rehearsal time.
If you’re planning your next season and want to anchor your program in the choral canon while keeping it engaging and accessible, this list is for you. Here are five time-tested works that offer rich musical value and are adaptable for a range of high school choirs.
1. Ave Verum Corpus – W.A. Mozart
Why it works:
This beloved motet is short, singable, and perfect for building blend and phrasing. Its lyrical lines and classical harmonies give your students a chance to experience musical elegance without being overwhelmed by vocal demands.
Teaching value:
Focus on vowel unity, phrasing, dynamic shaping, and clear Latin diction. It’s also a great entry point to introduce Classical-era style.
Pro tip:
Even choirs with modest sight-reading skills can experience success with this piece. Try it a cappella once learned to develop listening skills.
2. Sicut Cervus – Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Why it works:
This Renaissance gem is a gentle, flowing polyphonic work that introduces students to imitative counterpoint in a manageable way.
Teaching value:
It offers a chance to teach Renaissance tuning, text stress, and vocal independence. It’s also great for building ensemble awareness.
Pro tip:
Slow the tempo and teach each voice part on a neutral syllable first to help students internalize the lines before layering the Latin text.
3. The Storm is Passing Over – arr. Barbara W. Baker
Why it works:
This uplifting spiritual arrangement brings energy and optimism to your program. Its repetition and structure make it accessible, but the message and musicality keep it powerful.
Teaching value:
It’s perfect for working on rhythmic clarity, articulation, and gospel-style dynamics. It also opens the door to discussion about spirituals and their cultural context.
Pro tip:
Use this as a closing number or festival piece—it’s a crowd-pleaser that lets your choir shine expressively.
4. Locus Iste – Anton Bruckner
Why it works:
This brief sacred motet is harmonically rich and emotionally resonant. It allows students to explore Romantic sonorities and blend within lush chords.
Teaching value:
This is a fantastic work for working on tuning, breathing together, and exploring Romantic musical textures in a cappella format.
Pro tip:
Even choirs with only two-part capability can perform a simplified SAB arrangement. Slow practice with a piano helps with intonation.
5. Sing Me to Heaven – Daniel E. Gawthrop
Why it works:
This modern choral standard has become beloved for its soaring lines and emotional depth. It challenges your choir musically and expressively while offering a contemporary contrast to older repertoire.
Teaching value:
Work on expressive shaping, legato phrasing, and text painting. This piece also sparks conversations about why we sing—and for whom.
Pro tip:
Pair this piece with a moment of reflection or dedication to deepen its impact on singers and audience alike.
Final Thoughts
There’s a reason these pieces have stood the test of time: they offer meaningful musical experiences, accessible beauty, and teachable moments for high school choirs of many levels. Whether you’re building a festival set, concert program, or just starting to collect ideas for next season, try anchoring your repertoire around one or two of these timeless works and expanding from there.
Have a favorite canon piece your choir loves to sing? I’d love to hear about it—leave a comment or tag me on Instagram!
Until next time—keep making music,
Shana
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