There’s something special about an intergenerational choir: the coming together of people of all ages and walks of life to share music and lift their voices in song.

It sends a message of unity and inclusivity and I think it gives us a little glimpse of what heaven might be like, singing in the angel choir.

Intergenerational choirs are a great way to celebrate something special in the life of the church—an anniversary or special service. They also work well during the summer when your regular choir attendance might be a little lower than usual.

The easiest way to create an intergenerational choral experience is to combine groups you already have.

There are a number of ways to do this.

How to Organize an Intergenerational Choir:

• children’s choir + handbell choir (adult, youth, or an intergenerational group)

• adult choir + youth choir

• adult choir + children’s choir

• SSA choir + children’s choir

• youth choir + children’s choir

• adult choir, youth choir + children’s choir

• adult choir, youth choir, children’s choir + handbell choir

• adult choir + handbell choir (youth, children, or an intergenerational group)

• youth choir + handbell choir (adult, children, or an intergenerational group)

This may also be a good opportunity to extend an invitation to those in the congregation who you know can sing, but for whatever reasons aren’t currently connected to a choir. Invite families to join and sing together in this special service. 

Once you have some ideas of how you want to combine your choirs and ensembles, it’s time to think about music. 

A Few Practical Considerations:

If you’re including your children’s choir, think about an anthem that is both accessible and appropriate for them. This includes a good singing range, appropriate text, and accessible part-writing. Remember, even if you’re not asking them to sing in multiple parts, it may be challenging for them to stay on the melody line if the other parts are moving in parallel 3rds or 6ths with them.

If you’re including your youth choir, consider what’s accessible and appropriate for them: is the text relevant? Is the part-writing accessible? Are the ranges appropriate for those with changing voices?

If you’re including your handbell choir, think about what’s accessible for them, level-wise. Also, how many people will that take out of your adult choir? Will you still be okay on parts?

Ready to get started? Here are 25 anthems that work well for intergenerational choirs, organized by voicing, for easy sorting:

25 Choral Anthems for Intergenerational Choirs

*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Unison/2-part

These anthems are written for unison or 2-part choirs. Have your choirs sing together in unison or take turns singing different verses, and have each choir take a different line when it splits into two parts.

1. Amazing Grace (Mark A. Miller)
Great for youth and adults! Might be a little out of reach for children’s choirs.

2. Joyful, Joyful (arr. Craig Curry)
Have the choirs take turns singing different parts of this unison melody, then come together at the end. The melody is the traditional hymn version.

3. Song of Joy, Song of Praise (arr. James Brighton)
Consider having your children’s choir sing Part I and your youth or adult choir sing Part II of this spirited Spanish canon.

SAB

These anthems are written for SAB choirs or 3-part mixed. If that’s accessible for your youth choir, have them join the adults and have your children’s choir sing the melody in different places.

4. We Are Singing for the Lord is Our Light (Hal Hopson)
This anthem works great as a processional. Have the children’s choir sing the top line throughout.

5. Gathered As One (Deanna Light/Paul A. Tate)
Here’s another anthem with verse/chorus structure; have each choir sing a verse by themselves, then sing together on the chorus.

6. The Love of God (Steve Danyew)
This anthem is written for SAB choir and praise band and would work well as a combined anthem for youth and adults.

SATB

These anthems are written for SATB choirs, but I think they lend themselves well to being sung by an intergenerational choir or combined choirs.

7. Soli Deo (David Waggoner)
The unison lines from the doxology (slightly different from the hymnal version) would be a nice way to feature a children’s or youth choir. The optional percussion parts are a wonderful addition.

8. I Believe (Mark A. Miller)
The repetitive nature of this anthem makes it accessible for youth choirs to sing (perhaps in 2- or 3-part), and there’s a lovely descant that works well for children’s voices.

9. Keep God’s Light (Mark Patterson)
Accompanied by Djembe or Conga Drum, this a cappella anthem has accessible 4-part writing, a repeated chorus (great for children’s or youth choir joining in), and great text.

10. Uyai Mose (Come, All You People) (arr. Kevin Holland)
Accompanied by African percussion, this anthem begins simply with a unison melody, expanding out to 4-part harmony. It works well as a processional: have your youth choir sing in 2-3 parts and have your children’s choir sing the melody line.

11. Christ is Born This Holy Night (arr. Lloyd Larson)
A unique Advent/Christmas medley, featuring “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence,” “Still, Still, Still," and “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly.” A great way to feature different choirs and include a few handbells or handchimes (8 notes total).

12. Draw the Circle Wide (Mark A. Miller)
Simple text, repetitive melodic material, and limited part-writing make this anthem accessible for all ages.

Combined Choirs:

These anthems are written specifically for combined choirs—adult and children or youth and children.

13. Make Way for the King (arr. Gartner)
Scored for SATB & Unison Choir

14. Sizohamba Naye (We Will Walk with God) (Terry Taylor)
Scored for SATB & Unison Choir with African percussion

15. Tell the Story of Jesus (arr. Lloyd Larson)
Scored for SAB & Unison Choir

16. First Song of Isaiah (Jack Noble White)
Scored for SATB & Unison Choir

17. How Quietly (Joel Raney)
Scored for SAB & Unison Choir with opt. Handbells

Available in different voicings:

These anthems are available in a few different voicings, meaning you can purchase different octavos for each choir. For instance, purchase the Unison/2-part scores for your older elementary children’s choir and the SATB version for your adult choir.

18. Inscription of Hope (Randall Stroope) 
Available for Unison/2-part, 3-part Mixed, and SATB Choir. Consider having the women of your adult choir combine with your children’s choir using the Unison/2-part scores.

19. A Prayer for Humility (Mark Patterson)
Available for Unison and SATB Choir. Beautiful text, especially appropriate during Lent, I think.

20. Canta Una Canción (Sing a Song) (Victor Johnson)
Available for 2-part and 3-part Mixed Choir. A great opportunity for your choirs to sing in Spanish!

21. Hosanna Processional (A Palm Sunday Canon) (Donald Moore)
Available for 2-part and SAB/3-part Mixed Choir. A great way to begin your Palm Sunday service!

22. Pié Jesu (Mary Lynn Lightfoot)
Available for 2-part, 3-part, SSA, TTB, and SATB Choir. This anthem features accessible Latin text and beautiful melodic lines. Written in memory of the children who lost their lives in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and all children who are victims of violence.

23. God So Loved the World (John Horman)
Available for Unison/2-Part and SATB Choir with opt. C Instrument. Very appropriate for Lent and Holy Week services.

24. Ubi Caritas (Victor C. Johnson)
Available for 2-part and 3-part Mixed Choir. The simple Latin text is roughly translated, “Where charity and love are, God is there. Love of Christ has gathered us into one. Let us rejoice in Him and be glad. Let us fear, and let us love the living God. And from a sincere heart let us love one.” (source) Appropriate for Lent and Holy Week; Maundy Thursday, in particular.

25. Gather By the River to Pray (arr. Pepper Choplin)
Available for 2-Part, SAB, and SATB Choir. A fun partner song featuring “Shall We Gather at the River” and “Down to the River to Pray."

I’d love to hear from you:

What are your favorite intergenerational anthems? Please leave a comment below!

More helpful articles:
Unity in Harmony: Planning an Intergenerational Choir
Flash Mobs and Other Creative Ways to Come Together in Worship