Choral Repertoire Suggestions for Youth by Rachel Maki
- rmakimusic
- Aug 6
- 3 min read
Choral Repertoire Suggestions for Youth by Rachel Maki
It is that time of year where Music Educators are starting to plan their music for the upcoming school year or community events. Its exciting but also can be a lot to look through score after school trying to find the right songs for programming. It is my hope as a R&R Chair for WCDA that I can help you find some gems for this coming year!
I will also host a Music Teacher Roundtable here in Milwaukee! More details to be released this month. Follow on Facebook to learn more.
Children, Community and Youth High Five Column
By Rachel Maki, Resource and Repertoire Chair for Children, Community and Youth
Founder and Director, Making Music Vocal Arts – mmvocalarts.com
Article written for A2025- The Voice: WCDA
1. The Bird’s Lullaby
Sarah Quartel
SSAA or SATB
Oxford University Press
Last year, I had the opportunity to work with the Jefferson High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Bryce Muenchow. In preparing the score for this piece, I absolutely fell in love with it. I began to imagine the text through the perspective of the bird—how it sings, and how the mood shifts as the music progresses. What is the bird feeling, and how does the music reflect that?
I’m drawn to pieces where the emotion isn’t explicitly stated in the text but instead is deeply embedded in the musical writing. The Bird’s Lullaby is perfect for that reason—sensitive, beautiful, and thoughtful. A lovely option for youth ensembles, available in both SSAA and SATB voicings.
2. Here, in this Place
WI Composer, Claire Kia
Suite for Two-Part Choir, with Flute and Piano Accompaniment
After spending a few years in Wisconsin, I’ve had the privilege of forming a community with some truly talented people. Claire Kia is one of them—a local composer whose gentle, expressive voice shines through her writing.
This suite for younger treble voices (SA or unchanged) offers a peaceful musical reflection on being outdoors. It's playful and artistic with the sun bringing a sense of warmth and release while the breeze invites the singers to explore breath and mystery. The final movement allows the water to breathe with stillness and clarity. The suite beautifully nurtures vocal tone, phrasing, and emotional feeling in a mature but still playful way.
3. Plandite (Plaudite Omnis Terra)
Victor C. Johnson
Two Part, 3-Part Mixed or SATB
Alfred Choral Music
I was introduced to this piece while serving as a clinician for the Badger State Girl Choir during their Milwaukee tour. They had just begun rehearsing Plandite, and I immediately saw its potential across a wide range of ages and ensembles.
It has great rhythmic energy, a vibrant mixed meter, and engaging Latin text. The piece offers an excellent opportunity to focus on text inflection, tone shaping, and phrase direction—especially valuable for choirs developing musicality and ensemble unity.
4. Vox
Greg Gilpin
SAB or SSA
Alfred Choral Music
This one will stay with me. I taught Vox during the Summer Choral Showcase with Making Music Vocal Arts, and it’s a piece I’ll return to time and again. It's catchy vocal patterns and playful rhythms offer a dynamic way to explore vocal textures.
Using only nonsense syllables, Vox encourages creativity through articulation and phrasing. It functions beautifully as a concert opener or closer, a warm-up, or a stand-alone vocalise. If you love this one, check out Gilpin’s follow-up piece, Vox Vibe.
5. Over hill, over dale
Andrea Ramsey, text from William Shakespeare- A Mid Summer Night’s Dream
SA with Piano
Oxford University Press
This is one of my favorites for advanced treble choirs. With text drawn from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the vocal lines flutter like fairies darting through moonlight. The mixed meter flows naturally, matching the speech rhythms and rhyme.
The accompaniment is intricate, enhancing the drama and playfulness of the text. This is an excellent repertoire choice to spark conversations about poetry, interpretation, character, and historical context—all through intelligent and theatrical writing.
Interested in hiring Rachel Maki to clinician your school or community group? Rachel works with all age ranges from Children through Adult Ensembles and is highly skilled as a conductor and vocal artist to bring together technique and musical line. To learn more about Rachel, visit https://www.mmvocalarts.com/about-rachel-maki or email info@mmvocalarts.com.
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