This summer, I’ve been sharing my reading session picks for choirs—twelve anthems for Adult Choir, and eleven anthems for Youth Choir, so far.
The final post in the series this year is anthems you can use with your children's choir. Most of these are brand new this year and feature opportunities to develop part-singing within your choir and include other instruments: organ, flute, and handbells or handchimes. This is a great way to develop musical independence in your singers, help develop their listening skills, and create a memorable and meaningful worship experience for them.
Here are my children's choir reading session picks from the last few years:
2017 Reading Session Picks
2014 Reading Session Picks
Ready to see the list? Here are nine anthem picks, plus a few recommendations from the community at the end of the post:
Best Children’s Choir Anthems (2018)
*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Joshua! (Kimberly Ingram / Joe Milton & Wally Minko)
Unison/Two-Part Choir with Piano
A fun, upbeat retelling of the story of Joshua, featuring a rhythmic speech section in the middle and an optional three-part split for the final chorus.
Sing Hallelujah (Jesus Lives Today) (Mark Burrows)
Two-Part Choir with Piano
Based on melodic echo patterns, this joyful anthem would be great for combined choirs, with singers of different ages.
Trust in God (Terry Taylor)
Unison Choir with Piano
Children can learn what it means to trust in God by learning the stories of Jonah, Paul and Silas, Daniel, and Esther, as told through this anthem. A great opportunity to feature several soloists. Part of the Rote-to-Note Choral Series.
The Fruit of the Spirit (Becki Slagle Mayo)
Unison/Two-Part Choir with Piano and Opt. Flute
A lilting, lyrical new setting of this beloved Scripture text. This anthem features a lovely countermelody near the end that’s doubled by the flute; a great way to introduce part-singing to your choir!
Thank You, God, for Loving Me (arr. Brad Nix)
Unison/Two-Part Choir with Piano and Opt. Flute
A tender, thoughtful prayer of thankfulness with beautiful text and a simple, lyrical melody made up of mostly stepwise motion.
Light of Hope (Mark Patterson)
Unison/Two-Part with Piano with 4-5 Handbells or Handchimes
A suite of short anthems for the first three seasons of the church year: Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. Each one features a few handbells or handchimes, and the third in the set includes an opportunity to sing in canon.
I. Light of Hope, Light of Peace (Advent)
II. Light of Hope Trilogy: Unto Us (Christmas)
III. Share God’s Love (Epiphany)
Psalm 150 (Terre Johnson)
Unison/Two-part Choir with Piano
A grand and regal opening, followed by long, flowing lines and clear text-setting. Featuring a simple (optional) canon, this anthem would be an excellent way to introduce and reinforce part-singing within your choir.
Morning Stars Singing Together (Helen Kemp)
Unison Choir with Piano and Opt. Organ and Handbells
A lyrical anthem with a message of thankfulness and gratitude. Helen Kemp’s final commissioned work, this anthem features a simple, supportive accompaniment and long, lyrical lines. The addition of handbells adds sparkle throughout.
Amazing Day (Rebecca Thompson)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano and Opt. Handbells
A sweet anthem of thanksgiving with singable lines and accessible text, thanking God for the simple and everyday things of life: work and play, friends and family, and animals, too.
Reader Favorites
Something new for this year, I’m including a section of reader favorites. These are the anthems you said you’ve been listening to (and loving) lately, as shared on Facebook. Enjoy!
Dance and Sing! (Nancy Gifford)
Unison Choir with Piano
Share God’s Love from the Light of Hope Trilogy (Mark Patterson)
Unison/Two-Part with Piano with 4-5 Handbells or Handchimes
Come, Let Us Sing (Jody Lindh)
Unison Choir with Piano
Carol Covington, Clemmons UMC, Clemmons, NC
The First Noel (arr. Trevor Manor)
Unison/Two-Part or SATB Choir with Piano and Opt. Violin and Chime Tree
Light of Hope Trilogy (Mark Patterson)
Unison/Two-Part with Piano with 4-5 Handbells or Handchimes
More Than Enough (Becki Slagle Mayo/Lynn Shaw Bailey)
Unison Choir with Piano and Congregation.
Katie Hout
What are your favorite children’s choir anthems? What will you be singing with your choir this year?
