Choir competition judging criteria: the four we use
The four criteria FSN Voices uses to judge choirs — 25 marks each — what the judges listen for in each, and how the marking should work on the day.
On this page
In short
- Choose carols your choir can sing well, then add one that stretches it.
- Small or new choirs: Silent Night, Away in a Manger, O Come, All Ye Faithful.
- Confident choirs: Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Joy to the World, The First Nowell.
- Start rehearsing by early November so the carols are secure by the first service.
How to choose carols for ministration
A ministration isn’t a concert. The congregation should be able to follow the words and, often, join in. Start from three questions:
- Can we sing it well? A familiar carol sung in tune, as one choir, ministers more than a hard one that wobbles.
- Does the congregation know it? Familiar carols invite people in. Save one slot for something they haven’t heard you sing.
- Does it fit the moment? A quiet carol for the reading, a joyful one for the procession or the offering.
Carols for a new or small choir
These carols have simple melodies, steady rhythms and arrangements that work with a few voices in each part. They are a safe place to start, and a good test of blend.
| Carol | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Silent Night | Slow and gentle; a test of tuning and blend with nowhere to hide |
| Away in a Manger | Short, simple and well known |
| O Come, All Ye Faithful | The congregation joins the refrain |
| O Little Town of Bethlehem | A steady melody that suits a small choir |
| While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks | Easy to learn; works in unison or parts |
Carols for a confident choir
These ask for more: wider ranges, stronger parts and more energy. Choose them when your choir can already hold its parts on the simpler carols.
| Carol | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Hark the Herald Angels Sing | Bright and festive; needs a confident soprano line |
| Joy to the World | Joyful, and needs crisp rhythm across the parts |
| The First Nowell | Long, flowing phrases that test breath and phrasing |
| God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen | Driving rhythm and clear words |
| Once in Royal David’s City | Works well opened by one voice, then the full choir |
Carols that need a strong choir
These are rewarding but exposed. Sing them only if your choir has secure parts in every section and time to polish them.
| Carol | Why it’s harder |
|---|---|
| Ding Dong Merrily on High | Long runs on one word test breath and togetherness |
| Angels from the Realms of Glory | Big range and a demanding refrain |
| In the Bleak Midwinter | Quiet and slow; any tuning slip is heard |
A last check before you choose: the words of these carols are old, but the arrangement you sing from may be modern. Check who holds the rights to your arrangement before you print copies.
Singing in Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa
A verse in a Nigerian language often reaches the congregation more directly than another verse in English. Treat it with the same care: learn the words from a native speaker, and work on clear vowels and consonants so the whole room can follow. At FSN Voices, we mark diction in whatever language a choir sings, so no language is an advantage — the same standard holds on a church stage.
Plan your Christmas set
- Early November: choose your two or three carols and start learning parts.
- Mid-November: work on tuning, blend and the words.
- Late November: shape the dynamics and phrasing.
- Early December: full run-throughs, including how the choir walks in and stands.
The same steps work for a competition set. Our week-by-week plan for preparing your choir goes into each one, and Choir competition judging criteria shows what judges listen for.
Questions choirmasters ask
What are good Christmas carols for a church choir?
Start with carols the congregation knows — Silent Night, O Come, All Ye Faithful and Joy to the World — then add one or two that give the choir something of its own, such as Once in Royal David’s City or Ding Dong Merrily on High.
How many carols should a choir prepare for Christmas ministration?
For one ministration, two or three carols is plenty. Sing fewer carols well rather than many carols roughly.
When should a choir start rehearsing Christmas carols?
By early November. That gives you about six weeks before Christmas to learn the parts and still have time to polish them.
Can we sing carols in Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa?
Yes, and it often lands best with the congregation. Give a verse in a Nigerian language the same care as the English: clear consonants and every word the room can follow.
Last checked 29 September 2026. Spotted something out of date? Email info@futurestarnetwork.com.