By Mark Cabaniss
President/CEO, Jubilate Music Group

For numerous decades, church choirs have been the defining sound of music worship in the United States and around the world. But as congregations have aged and worship styles have shifted, many church musicians find themselves asking the same question: 

Where are the younger singers?

While the stereotype persists that choirs are “for older folks,” the reality is more nuanced and far more hopeful. Across the country, churches that intentionally cultivate younger participation are seeing encouraging results. Choirs are not fading; they are evolving. And where the evolution is done thoughtfully, they are thriving with new generations.

This blog explores proven strategies, drawn from congregations that have successfully attracted younger adults, that help revitalize choirs, build intergenerational community, and ensure a vibrant future for church choirs.

1. Lowering the Barrier of Time Commitment

One of the biggest hurdles younger adults face is not musical interest but schedule overload. The era of the predictable weeknight routine is long gone. Today’s younger adults navigate a world of variable work schedules, children’s activities, side gigs, and family responsibilities.

A weekly, 90-minute rehearsal that demands unwavering attendance can feel like an insurmountable obstacle. But churches that rethink the commitment model are seeing remarkable engagement.

Shorter Rehearsals
Directors transitioning from 90-minute rehearsals to 60 or 70-minute sessions report increased attendance consistency and improved morale. Younger adults appreciate the respect for their time, and older singers often welcome the change as well.  That’s not to say a “bonus rehearsal” during seasonal crunch times still might not be in order, but you get the idea.

Rotating Participation
Some choirs have adopted a flexible approach: members may sign up for one month at a time, or for specific services they can commit to. This structure acknowledges the realities of modern life while maintaining musical excellence through thoughtful planning.

Project-Based Singing
Instead of asking for a full-year(s) commitment from everyone, many churches now organize around musical “projects” to attract young singers:

• A fall anthem series (4-6 weeks)

• A Christmas concert

• A Holy Week choir (Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday)

• A summer worship choir (often with simplified/reduced rehearsal expectations)

This creates entry points that feel doable and non-intimidating. Younger singers often begin by joining one project, then find themselves returning again and again or becoming a permanent part of the group.

The lesson? Commitment should feel invitational, not obligatory. When churches make it easier to say yes, younger adults do.

2. Offering Childcare: The Game Changer

If one single strategy consistently transforms choir demographics, it is this: provide childcare during rehearsals.  

For adults in their 30s and 40s (prime singing age) childcare is often the main barrier keeping them from participating in any midweek church activity. When childcare is provided:

• Parents feel welcomed rather than excluded.

• Singing becomes one of the few “adult only” experiences many parents get weekly.

• Couples can participate together.

Even small churches can implement this effectively:

• Partner with the youth group (many teens are grateful for a paid babysitting opportunity).

• Provide a designated room with supervised activities.

• Rotate volunteers on a predictable schedule.

Churches that offer dependable childcare during rehearsals routinely report significant increases in younger choir members, sometimes within weeks. The return on this investment is huge.

3. Blended Repertoire That Resonates Across Generations

Another key factor in attracting younger singers is repertoire that feels meaningful and relevant while still uplifting the congregation. Younger adults are not necessarily opposed to traditional church music; many appreciate its beauty and depth. But they also respond warmly to music that reflects their own worship vocabulary.

Modern Hymnody
Hymns from trusted writers from today bridge generations with rich theology and accessible melodies. Arrangements of such hymns for choir can be particularly engaging for younger singers.   That’s not to say of course the solid and classic hymns of the faith should be reduced…but a mixture of classics and new will keep things fresh and appealing across generations.

Click here to discover new hymns for worship from Hymns Now.

Contemporary Worship Anthems
Certain contemporary worship songs – when arranged thoughtfully for choir – can integrate seamlessly into traditional or blended services. These pieces give younger singers a familiar musical landscape while offering the choral depth loved by older members.

Cinematic and Modern Choral Textures
Many young adults recognize musical influences from film scores, pop, indie worship, and modern classical styles. Anthems with warm harmonic palettes, subtle rhythmic energy, or atmospheric accompaniments often resonate strongly.

The goal is not to chase trends but to curate repertoire that:

• Honors the church’s identity

• Allows the choir to shine

• Speaks to multiple generations

When younger singers feel the choir is musically relevant and not dated, they stay.  I’m not saying you should “dumb things down” musically, but choose your repertoire carefully that speaks to older and younger alike.  Some pieces will speak to older folks and others to younger ones.  Mission accomplished.

4. Creating Intergenerational Ensembles That Inspire Participation

One of the most beautiful elements of choral singing is its ability to bring generations together. Younger singers are more likely to join and remain when they feel connected to people of different ages.

Churches with successful intergenerational choirs often:

• Invite teens to join seasonal projects

• Pair younger singers with experienced mentors in their section

• Feature occasional combined children/youth/adult choir Sundays

• Celebrate long-time members openly while welcoming new voices equally

This creates a choir culture that feels like a family rather than a club. Older members often express renewed purpose when investing in younger singers. Younger adults, meanwhile, value the authenticity and wisdom of older generations.

Intergenerational choirs grow not only in size but in richness of community…a powerful draw for younger adults seeking connection in an increasingly disconnected world.

5. Fostering Community, Not Just an Ensemble

Younger generations often join choirs not only for music but for relationship and purpose. A choir that operates strictly as a musical unit – rehearse, sing, go home – misses opportunities to build lasting engagement.

Thriving choirs incorporate:

Shared Meals & Fellowship
A quarterly potluck, pizza night, or post-service brunch goes a long way toward making rehearsal feel like the gathering of a beloved community.

Pastoral Care
Choirs often become one of the most caring groups in the church. Younger singers are deeply moved when they see compassion in action – prayer chains, support during hardships, gestures of love.

Opportunities to Contribute
Today’s younger adults want to make a difference. Churches can nurture this by inviting:

• Young adults to lead warm-ups

• Members to share devotionals

• Tech-savvy singers to assist with audio/visual needs

• Volunteers to help plan social events

When people feel they have a place to contribute – beyond singing – they feel ownership. Ownership leads to longevity.

6. Lowering the Musical Intimidation Factor

Many younger adults who love music feel uncertain about joining a choir, especially if they don’t read music fluently. Churches that normalize “come as you are musically” lower this psychological barrier.

Helpful practices include:

• Warm, personal invitations rather than general announcements

• Encouraging beginners to sit near supportive singers

• Teaching parts in creative ways (rehearsal tracks, sectional rehearsals, learning apps)

Some choirs publicly affirm:
“You don’t have to read music to join—just bring a willing heart and a love for singing.”
This simple statement, spoken sincerely, can change everything

7. Communicating the Purpose: Choir as Ministry and Worship, Not Performance

Younger generations are very “purpose driven.” They want to know why something matters.

Churches that articulate clear purpose statements such as:

“We lead our congregation in worship.”
“We create beauty that opens hearts to God.”
“We serve our church through music and community.”

…find that younger adults respond deeply.

When choir is framed not as “a weekly rehearsal commitment” but as a ministry with spiritual mission, it resonates far beyond the notes on the page.

8. Leadership Tone: Invitation Over Expectation

Finally, the attitude of leadership shapes culture. Directors who welcome imperfection, celebrate progress, and cultivate joy build choirs people want to be part of.

Younger adults are particularly sensitive to:

• Authenticity

• Encouragement

• Flexibility

• Grace

A director who embodies these qualities inspires long-term loyalty across generations.

The Bottom Line: A Vibrant Future for Church Choirs Is Possible (and Needed!)

Yes…church choirs today skew older in much of the United States.
Yes…many congregations face shrinking participation.
Yes…vibrant choirs have an amazing and immeasurable impact on their church and community.

But the story is far from over. Choirs are uniquely positioned to offer community, beauty, purpose, and multigenerational connection – qualities younger adults crave in an increasingly fragmented culture.

Churches that rethink structure, repertoire, community-building, and communication are discovering what many long suspected:

Younger adults can and will love choirs. They just need choirs that love them back.

A thriving intergenerational choir is one of the most compelling ministries a church can offer. And when younger singers find a place in the choir, the entire congregation feels the renewal.

The future of church choirs will not look exactly like the past. But where intentionality meets openness, and where tradition meets welcome, the choir’s voice will continue to rise: strong, beautiful, and full of life for generations to come.

By Susan Eernisse
Children’s Music Editor/Jubilate Music Group

Presenting a children’s musical can be a great springboard to beginning a children’s choir at your church. Musicals can also bring energy and excitement to an existing children’s choir program, whether the program is thriving or in need of an infusion of energy and creativity. Although large churches with unlimited resources can offer huge productions, musicals can also be produced simply with a small cast and minimal resources. If you have been reluctant to stage a musical for whatever reason, perhaps now is the time to give it further consideration. 

Why Musicals? 
As you think about the value of musicals and discuss possibilities with your ministry team, create a list of positives. Here’s a short list to get you started.
- An appealing musical with a strong message and developmentally appropriate music offers children the opportunity to examine, grow, and share their faith in a unique way. 
- The weeks of preparation promote unity and a strong sense of purpose as children learn important spiritual truths and expand their musical skills. 
- The project can be multi-generational in scope as youth and adult volunteers can be enlisted as actors, rehearsal assistants, prompters, artists, publicists, photographers, builders, costume designers, snack hosts, and more – a great way to strengthen community!
- The performance can become a “front-door” to church engagement as friends and extended family members who have never attended a worship service come to see and hear their special child.

Reviewing and Selecting a Musical
Before you begin your search, you should assess your particular situation, the resources you have, the performance venue, the makeup of your group (ages, abilities, parental support), and the type of musical that would most closely align with your church’s mission. Do you want a musical based on a biblical character or significant event in the Bible? Or perhaps you want a contemporary setting with a spiritual application. Decide when you will present the musical and determine the category of musical that will be best – seasonal/holiday or non-seasonal. Make note of the performance time of each musical and look for any “extras” offered by the publisher: performance recordings, download options, practice recordings, rehearsal helps and tips, etc. Here is a list of considerations as you review each musical. 

Make a checklist of these and other relevant points as you review potential choices. After making your top selections, consider a listening session with your ministry team to make the final call. 

Final Tips
By now you have noted my love of lists. Let me leave you with one more. 
Keep these things in focus as you and your team work with the children:  
- Set realistic goals and expectations for yourself, the children, and all volunteers.
- Highlight spiritual connections regularly.
- Point out and explain Biblical truths – read related scriptures, never assuming they already know the stories and verses. (Create games to help with teaching and memorization.)
- Rehearse the prominent musical features in each song – make the children successful musicians, not just rote learners with a demo recording – teach for the future! 
- Establish a calm, stress-free atmosphere for kids and teachers – be aware of children with performance anxiety and other issues that may be triggered. 
- Use a team approach with no “superstars” – everyone should be valued and included.

A musical can lay the groundwork for starting, restarting, or enhancing children’s choirs in your church. Capitalize on the energy and enthusiasm of the moment and look for ways to involve more families in your children’s choir ministry. Choir in general and musicals specifically will leave a lasting impact on the children and their families/audience for years to come.

Jubilate Music Group has a complete catalog of bestselling children’s musicals for Christmas, Easter, and all year long including the new Mystery at Christmas Manor.  Click HERE to peruse those publications.

Susan Eernisse is a veteran children’s music director and writer/editor of children's music materials. She is a respected children's choir clinician and has served on the faculties of children's music camps and festivals for many years.  She is the Children’s Music Editor for Jubilate Music Group, which has a complete catalog of children’s musicals.

By Tim Sharp

Editor’s Note:  The 1995-2001 publication “Sacred Music News & Review” (SMNR) has been revived by Tim Sharp, Doug Haney, and Polyphony Music Resources as “Sacred Music News & Reviews.” The following column by Tim Sharp is from the premiere edition of the reimagined  publication.  

In the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci, one question stands out as a guiding principle: “Why?” This single, simple inquiry—”Perché?” in his native Italian—was the catalyst for a lifetime of investigation that spanned art, science, engineering, and anatomy. For da Vinci, asking “why” was not merely a means of intellectual curiosity; it was a quest for deeper understanding, a pursuit of truth that transcended the superficial and reached toward the very essence of things. His insatiable desire to know the why behind the workings of the world led him to some of the most groundbreaking discoveries in history. In the context of sacred music ministry, we would do well to adopt the same mindset. And this is the publication pursuit of Sacred Music News & Reviews. Like da Vinci, we must ask “why” we do what we do, “why” we lead the congregation in song, “why” music plays such an essential role in our worship, and most importantly, “how” we can elevate our practices to reflect the transcendent nature of God’s glory. 

Sacred music is not just an art form; it is a vessel that carries us beyond ourselves, pointing us toward something higher. It’s easy to get lost in the mechanics—the notes, the rhythms, the arrangements, the instruments. But when we pause to ask, “why are we doing this?”, we are reminded that our work in ministry is not about performance, but about service. It is not about creating aesthetic beauty for its own sake, but about creating an atmosphere that invites divine presence and enables worshipers to encounter the sacred. Music becomes a tool, not just for expression, but for transcendence. 

Consider the profound role music plays in shaping our worship. It calls us to step outside the mundane and enter a space of divine encounter. Music lifts the heart, aligns the mind, and opens the soul to the mysteries of the Creator. But we must ask, why does music have this power? What is it about the combination of sound, silence, and harmony that facilitates a deeper connection with God? The mission of the publication Sacred Music News & Reviews is to explore the ideas and resources that assist us in this pursuit. 

Tim Sharp is founder of “Sacred Music News & Reviews” and co-editor of the reimagined publication. His career has included in depth work in higher education, non-profit arts administration, and music ministry.

By Mark Cabaniss

Celebrate Life!…Joy Comes in the Morning…Friends…It’s Cool in the Furnace… and the list could go on. Hopefully, you’re acquainted with or have experienced first-hand some or all of these now-classic musicals written by giants of church music. In my personal experience, the musical, or cantata, played a major role in my development as a church musician, writer, and then publisher.

In the modern church music world, I define a musical as a work that incorporates drama or dramatic/character narrative and a cantata as a work that simply has narration to tie the songs together (not a classic Bach cantata or oratorio). But unlike the Broadway musical where each song should develop the characters and/or advance the plot, I don’t think church musical songs necessarily need to adhere strictly to that form. For the purposes of this post, I call both musicals and cantatas “musicals.”

Like many, I have either performed in or conducted countless church musicals through the years, with those experiences being among my most enjoyable and rewarding music worship ones. But in the last decade, there’s no question the church musical genre has somewhat waned for a number of reasons: changing worship styles and fewer choirs, shrinking budgets, busier schedules, and I think a cultural shift of wanting more for less (less rehearsal and less hassle, that is). In my opinion, that’s a real shame given the tremendous benefits presenting a musical offers.

Before you stop reading because you think I’m only writing about the hour-long, fully staged dramatic musical, stay with me! This post concerns any sort of musical or cantata performed in the church, from 12 minutes to 60 minutes in length, whether using fully costumed characters, people in t-shirts and jeans, or no individual characters at all.

Using music with drama and/or narration to depict religious subjects reaches back to ancient Biblical times. The modern-day church musical has its roots in the 1950s with John W. Peterson’s works, such as Night of Miracles (1958). Peterson was the first to bring a contemporary, almost Broadway sound and sensibility to the pulpit, and the public loved it (while some at first thought it heresy...just as those who initially felt likewise a few centuries earlier regarding Isaac Watts's "Hymns of Human Composure"). I had the honor and privilege of working with Mr. Peterson on his final musical, and when I asked, he told me his early musicals sold in the hundreds of thousands of copies in their first few months of release – unheard of by today’s standards but clear evidence that Peterson tapped into a real thirst for musicals within the context of worship.

Good News (1968) by Bob Oldenburg, was another early musical milestone, along with the aforementioned watershed Celebrate Life! – A Pulpit Musical Drama (1972) by Ragan Courtney and Buryl Red. These writers were the pioneers who dared to blaze new trails, not only bringing more contemporary sounds into the sanctuary of their day, but also the musical drama connected with it. All we church musical writers of today stand on their shoulders and owe a great debt of gratitude to these visionaries.

I remember a few years ago having a conversation with a minister of music who said he doesn’t do musicals with his choir anymore. “Too much work,” he said. I was stunned (and think I heard the sound of the late, great Buryl Red spinning in his grave). If difficulty was a deciding factor in our artistic endeavors, I’m afraid our world would be bereft of artistic achievement. Besides, musicals really aren’t that hard to prepare and present if chosen carefully for your choir.

But as I say, like it or not, our world has changed in this area. So are preparing musicals still worth it in our age of the Internet, social media, reality television, and other modern pursuits that can steal away our rehearsal time? Of course, my answer is a resounding YES!

Here are my top ten reasons for doing a musical once, twice, or even three times in your church this year and in years to come. They’re based not only on my personal experience through the years, but on what I’ve heard from countless directors and choir members over the last three decades:

• The event factor. Since musicals aren’t performed on a regular basis, whenever they are performed, they’re an event. And events, if they’re promoted correctly, generally bring out more people to see them than a regular worship service. They can build excitement and a real positive buzz in a church and community.
• Dramatic impact. There’s no question we live now more than ever in a fast-paced, visual world. Drama – especially when connected with music – offers a way to tell a story that can leave an indelible impact on its listeners. The gospel story is dramatic in and of itself and offers unlimited possibilities to be told in dramatic ways.
• Greater depth. A musical offers a longer time for the choir to present a message in the context of a worship service, therefore offering more time to plumb the depths of any given subject musically and dramatically than a weekly three-minute anthem affords. Not that the weekly anthem isn’t potentially deeply impactful. Of course it can be. But a musical is, in essence, eight to ten anthems organically woven with drama and narrative, so the potential impact is exponentially increased.
• Growth. Musicals offer the opportunity for choirs (and individuals) to grow in a number of ways: musically, numerically, and spiritually. Musicals tend to offer healthy musical challenges the choir might not experience otherwise. They occasionally attract non-choir members who want to try out the choir on a short-term basis, and sometimes these people become regular choir members. And since musicals can offer a greater depth of exploration of a subject, they provide deeper spiritual understanding of the subject in question, which can engender additional personal and corporate devotional time inside and outside regular rehearsal time.
• Outreach. The unchurched – seekers who don’t attend your church or any other – often attend a musical. These folks are sometimes attracted to a musical simply because they want to see their friend who sells insurance play the part of John the Baptist (akin to one of the main draws of community theatre). Or maybe they come simply because they’re invited. But a one-time special-event musical is a great excuse to invite those friends and family members who don’t attend church regularly. Even those who are regular churchgoers but not members of your church often attend, and that’s great, too, of course.
• Bonding. An event tends to rally a choir and focus its rehearsals for the period leading up to the presentation. If there are a few extra rehearsals to pull the musical together, these offer an opportunity for greater bonding between director and choir and among choir members. If there’s a church-wide fellowship event or reception following the presentation, these events can promote even more bonding and unity among the choir and entire church.
• Wider involvement. A musical offers areas for people not usually associated with a church’s music program to use their gifts at least short-term with the choir: designing, building, and painting sets; lighting and audio/visual enhancements; costumes; and more.
• Attracting more men and younger members. There’s no question that many choirs today are lacking in men and younger members. Musicals often require men to participate in speaking roles such as Jesus and the disciples, and with a little creative and gentle arm-twisting, the resourceful director can use a musical to recruit new men to the choir. The dramatic medium often appeals to the twenty- and thirty-something crowd – teenagers, too, for that matter… to say nothing of children’s musicals laying the foundation for a lifetime of choral singing.
• Dinner or dessert theatre. A whole article could be written on this form of church musical presentation, but here I’ll say I’ve done several dinner theatres at churches over the years, and every one of them was a big success – because people love the mixture of food and musicals, especially at Christmas. And they definitely bring in non-church people in addition to regular church members while offering all the above-mentioned benefits.
• Memories. Ask any church or choir member what anthem they sang on a particular Sunday a year ago and they’re likely to scratch their head and draw a blank. But ask them what musical they did when they were in high school, college, or last year in the adult choir and they’ll rattle off the title immediately. Again, I’m not saying the weekly anthem isn’t the choir’s bread and butter, but this is further evidence musicals are worth it.

Bottom line: musicals – when carefully chosen, prepared, and performed – can create a lasting and sometimes life-changing impact on those who experience them. All the hard work and prep time are worth it when you and your choir members experience “the smell of the greasepaint and the roar of the crowd”!

Click HERE to preview our entire collection of cantatas and musicals.