Christmas is a time of celebration and love, and singing is the perfect way to show this. Choirs at Christmas are very common and there are so many different songs that you hear over December. So here is our list of Christmas songs to fill you with the Christmas spirit.
Classic Christmas choir songs 🎅
There are many different traditional Christmas carols and hymns that are perfect for any choir to sing. They are generally easy to follow, but the more experienced choirs can add a personal touch to really impress!
1. Joy to the world - Isaac Watts
This classic religious hymn is instantly recognisable and can be an impressive display of talent for an experienced choir, or can be simplified for the less experienced choirs.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30OaM6b48k8
🫣 Difficulty: medium.
2. Hark the herald angels sing - Charles Wesley
This choir song is a moving and beautiful hymn perfect for those celebrating in a church. It is easy to follow and can show off your choir’s range and talent.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCt1s44cfMM
🫣 Difficulty: medium.
3. Holly and the ivy - Goes back 1000 years (Cecil Sharp published modern version)
This song goes back centuries to potentially the medieval times, but the most used version was first found in the early 1900. It is a classic for a reason and a great addition to any choir repertoire.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57l6dSbVppM
😌 Difficulty: easy.
4. Angels we have heard on high - James Chadwick
This Christmas classic is perfect for choirs with a mix of ranges, with each range getting to shine. This distinguishable chorus will be a hit at any Christmas concert.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URZ3BUowc3Y
🥵 Difficulty: hard.
5. Good king Wenceslas - John Mason Neale
This Christmas carol is easy to follow and can be great for either youth choirs or adult choirs. The lyrics tell an interesting story about the journey of a Bohemian king and is a must for any choir.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQVUMG6LZGM
😌 Difficulty: easy.
6. O come, all ye faithful - John Francis Wade
Like most of these hymns, this song can be picked up by any choir or individual, and also be used to showcase the skill of an experienced choir. The repeated line of the choir is iconic and builds up beautifully.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z51apErmAuw
🫣 Difficulty: medium.
7. Silent night - Franz Xaver Gruber
This is a beautiful and moving piece that has become a household song for the Christmas season. It is an amazing way to tell the story of the birth of Christ.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNpiQwgStNA
🫣 Difficulty: medium.
8. Carol of the bells - Peter Wilhousky
This song has a fast tempo which can make it a slight challenge for a choir. But it is well worth the practice as the tune lifts the spirits. The soprano and falsetto range makes it sound angelic and can be perfect for the experienced youth choirs.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQadcm_dwEM
🥵 Difficulty: hard.
9. O radiant dawn - J MacMillan
This is one for the more experienced choirs as it impressively displays a choirs range. This is a brilliant addition to a Christmas concert to move the audience.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2-Pf8NCgXE
🥵 Difficulty: hard.
10. Bethlehem down - Peter Warlock
This is another beautiful hymn that will impress any audience. The harmonising of the different vocal ranges create an angelic sound and capture the Christmas spirit.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKtTFIkP9ck
🥵 Difficulty: hard.
11. God rest ye merry gentlemen - unknown but gathered by Willian B Sandys
The creator of this hymn is unknown but it is thought to originate from the 18th century. Its powerful introduction immediately grabs the attention of anyone listening and is an easy song to learn while still impressively showing a choral range.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQw83_zpbJg
🫣 Difficulty: medium.
12. We wish you a merry Christmas - Arthur Warrel
This is an absolute classic and a must for any Christmas choir. It is very versatile so can be sung by young or beginner choirs with its simplistic lyrics, or by a more advanced choir can add layers and harmonising to dazzle any audience.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-OF7KGyDis
😌 Difficulty: easy.
13. The first Noel - John Stainer
Like many of these carols, this song is designed to be easy to follow so anyone can pick it up. Though it is a great choice to show off the angelic voices of a larger Christmas choir.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjHnUauigMg
🫣 Difficulty: medium.
14. 12 days of Christmas - Frederic Austin
This truly fun and repetitive Christmas song is beloved by all and is a perfect addition to a Christmas repertoire and will have anyone singing along with these catchy lyrics.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyEyMjdD2uk
🫣 Difficulty: medium.
15. Deck the halls! - Thomas Oliphant
This carol was originally written in Welsh but recreated in English in 1862. It has become a popular household song and a great way to bring the Christmas spirit. It is a shorter song but can still show the power of the voices in a choir.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kORRidv-p0Y
😌 Difficulty: easy.
Modern Christmas choir songs 🎄
While there are less modern Christmas songs for choirs, these ones chosen are sure to bewitch any crowd and are perfect for any choir group and always very popular with singers and audiences.
16. Jingle bell rock - Bobby Helms
This can be a lot of fun for a choir to perform and also a good choice if they want to show off a specific lead solo vocal. This can be brilliant for younger choirs, for more advanced choirs can try this acapella for an extra flare.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqwk7uR1BI8
🫣 Difficulty: medium.
17. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow - Frank Sinatra
This song brings the magic of Christmas. Any choir can bring the beautiful lyrics of Frank Sinatra alive. This is popular for a reason and sounds beautiful with a mix of voices.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE3uRRFVsmc
😌 Difficulty: easy.
18. Little drummer boy - Katherine Kennicott Davis
This can either be sung collectively or with a lead soprano singer with back up vocals mimicking the drumming sound. This can create a magical sound and can be a great choice for a child lead vocal or a children’s choir.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRDLsEJYTBU
🫣 Difficulty: medium.
19. Last Christmas - Wham
This song has become a Christmas classic that everyone will start singing if it comes one. It makes a great choir song that is easy to learn for any group. This is a lot of fun and sure to bring any to their feet.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhqNTjbQ71A
😌 Difficulty: easy.
20. The Christmas song - Nat King Cole
This contemporary song has been around for a long while, with Cole writing it in 1945 and has stood the test of time to bring the warm and peaceful feeling of Christmas. It is an effortlessly impressive piece for any choir.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKhRnZZ0cJI
😌 Difficulty: easy.
21. Born on Christmas day - Kristin Chenoweth
This lesser known Christmas song is a beautiful modern telling of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is perfect for an advanced children’s choir for an angelic vocal sound.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59ZtBX21Buk
🫣 Difficulty: medium.
22. White Christmas - Irving Berlin
This song won many awards for this original place in the musical Holiday Inn and the cover by Bing Crosby has become the world’s best-selling single. This makes it perfect for any choir to show off their skill and move any audience with this fan favourite.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_xq3Bj_tas
🫣 Difficulty: medium.
I hope that this list has been useful for creating the best Christmas choir and if you are interested in finding out more about vocal music, check out the links below!
- Nineteen Spectacular Songs Ideal for Youth Choirs 🎉
- Best Choir Songs: 35 must-know musical gems 🫶
- 50 gospel favorites you can't miss 🌟
Thank you for reading. See you at the next rehearsal!
