2025 is here, and with the new year, many choirs are preparing their Choral Repertoire 2025 for a whole series of concerts, travels, and competition appearances. And the first question that usually comes up is: What shall we sing?

We've taken a look at which pieces were the most popular at INTERKULTUR choir competitions and festivals in 2024 and gathered some interesting insights to consider for your Choral Repertoire 2025: 

Modern works by young contemporary composers are on the rise.

In competitions, the categories “Musica Sacra” and “Folklore” are particularly popular, which is why sacred works and traditional folklore from the choirs' home countries frequently appear on the list of most performed pieces. 

Additionally, many choirs place great importance on expressing strong emotions: Emotional pieces with powerful lyrics are meant to captivate both the audience and the jury. 

Whether for competitions, concerts, or festivals – we’ve summarized our findings from the most performed choral pieces of 2024 for you. With this, you can prepare optimally and find choral repertoire trends and inspiration for your concert year 2025!

1. Contemporary Choral Composers

One clear trend emerging from international choral competitions is the dominance of contemporary composers. Names like Ola Gjeilo, Kim André Arnesen, and Xingzimin Pan have appeared multiple times in competition programs. Their works combine modern sounds with expressional harmonies that captivate audiences and judges alike.

Popular Choices for your Choral Repertoire 2025:

• Let my love be heard – Jake Runestad
• Spes – Mia Makaroff
• Ta na Solbici – Samo Vovk

Why it matters: Modern choral music offers rich harmonies, emotional depth, and accessibility for both performers and listeners, making it a staple in international choral competitions.

2. Sacred Choral Music

In addition to the rise of modern compositions, sacred choral works continue to be a staple in many competition programs—primarily in the Musica Sacra category for certain, but also in other competition categories pieces of this genre remain highly popular. Latin settings, in particular, such as Ubi Caritas or Cantate Domino, are among the most frequently performed works.

Sacred Choral Works to be heard again in 2025:

• Ubi Caritas – Ola Gjeilo
• Cantate Domino – Josu Elberdin
• Ave Maria – Franz Biebl

Why it matters: Sacred works have been deeply connected to choral singing for centuries. By choosing a sacred repertoire, a choir demonstrates its appreciation for tradition while conveying deep emotions through the sacred meanings of the pieces. A safe yet powerful choice for competition performances!

3. Music Traditions from around the world

Folklore is one of the most popular competition categories at INTERKULTUR events. Choirs often choose folk music and traditional sounds from their home countries to showcase their culture to both the audience and the jury.

In other categories, they like to demonstrate openness and a spirit of experimentation by performing choral works from different cultural traditions. Such a repertoire undoubtedly brings rhythm, unique tonal colors, and cultural diversity to a competition program while also offering the (international) audience a glimpse into the choir’s own national identity.

Interesting and popular Folklore pieces for your Choral Repertoire 2025:

• Las amarillas – Trad. Mexico
• I denna ljuva sommartid – Trad. Sweden
• Rosas Pandan – Trad. Philippines

Why it matters: Music from their home countries helps choirs stand out in competitions and showcase their cultural roots. Engaging with musical traditions from other countries allows singers to step out of their comfort zone and demonstrate their versatility in concerts or competitions.

4. Emotional and Lyrical Works

Choral compositions with deep emotional storytelling are among the most performed pieces in 2024, and this trend is expected to grow in 2025. Works that convey introspective themes and strong emotions create a powerful and lasting impact.

Emotional Choir Pieces for your Choral Repertoire 2025:

• Even When He Is Silent – Kim André Arnesen
• It Is Our Light – Vigdis Hansa Elst
• Stars – Ēriks Ešenvalds

Why it matters: Music has the power to move people. Emotionally rich and thought-provoking pieces create a lasting impact—an essential element, especially in competition programs.

5. Young International Composers

Gone are the days when choral competitions were dominated solely by male European composers. Since a couple of years and also in 2024, we saw an increasing number of choirs performing music from diverse regions, including Asia, the Americas, and the Baltics—a trend driven by global connectivity and a growing interest in cultural exchange in music, which is set to continue in 2025.

Emerging Composers to Watch:

• Darius Lim (Singapore)
• Katerina Gimon (Canada)
• Samo Vovk (Slovenia)

Why it matters: Engaging with emerging composers gives contemporary choral music greater visibility and demonstrates a choir’s openness to current developments and its commitment to continuous artistic growth.

Notably, many of these young contemporary composers are achieving significant international success. Their works are frequently performed by choirs from different countries at international competitions, allowing their music to spread rapidly across the globe.

What This Means for Your Choir’s Repertoire in 2025

Whether for choir competitions, concert tours, or festivals, these emerging trends and developements offer valuable guidance and inspiration for shaping your own program. Here are a few tips:

Blend tradition and innovation – Showcase your mastery of traditional choral artistry while embracing the challenges of contemporary compositions.

Embrace cultural diversity – Exploring music from different traditions adds new colors to your repertoire.

Choose expressive works – Emotionally powerful and thought-provoking pieces create memorable moments that resonate long after the performance.

Ensure variety – A well-balanced program is key to competition success. Avoid selecting pieces that sound too similar; instead, highlight different styles and facets that define your choir.

If you're looking for even more inspiration, take a look at the program books from past INTERKULTUR events. They offer insights into what other choirs have performed recently and where – a great source for inspiration!

Final Thoughts

The choral landscape in 2025 will be defined by a blend of innovation and tradition. While contemporary composers continue to shape competition programs, sacred and folk music remain as strong as ever. By incorporating these trends into your repertoire, your choir can captivate audiences and stand out in any competition.

Are you planning your 2025 competition repertoire? Share your favorite choral pieces with us on our Social Media!