I am positive others will have repertoire selections that are well-advised.  However, I question your choice of pre-recorded music as it removes you as conductor.  The recording will determine your tempo and perhaps even dynamics.  It will necessarily be too loud as it is that item to which your choir will listen (they will not "listen" to you).  If they perform too strongly, they will not hear the recording.  The recording and your choir have switched positions: the recording is the main item and your chorus will accompany it (Of course, some accompanists are too loud also as they do not know how to be subordinate).  What happens if your recorded "accompaniment" becomes lost or broken or if someone pulls the plug accidentally during your performance?  Here is a better "What if."  What if your choir learned to perform the work(s) a cappella?  If the music is not written to be performed a cappella, purchase/borrow different music, create your own arrangement, or use the present arrangement but "bend" it enough to be able to perform it a cappella.  You will have a better and more confident choir.  Perhaps some will offer you some appropriate arrangements.  Have fun with this. Let the students have fun and a sense of accomplishment from this event from which they will not want to return mentally, emotionally, or artistically.

Tina, No one has written anything else and I suspect you are in a rush.  How about O sole mio (My sunshine).  The text is on the Internet.  They could do this a cappella rather easily and it could be an awesome point in the festivities!  The language is Neapolitan (southern Italy/Naples Kingdom).  The language is important to all Italians apparently and is virtually Italian.  For language assistance, Youtube has Pavarotti performing it.  It contains two verses.  Thoughts?  One verse/one refrain per soloist or one verse per soloist and a small group performs the refrain each time.  Have the soloists stand in different areas.  (staging ideas?) The soloists could be males singing to a female in the center (love song) or vice-versa.  The refrain ensemble could be in a third area.  Very Italiano.  Think about about hand-held percussion instruments as well for those who do or do not sing the song.  You and the children could great fun with this.  Develop your own ideas.  Good luck!

Dear Tina:

A really great program opener would be the Italian madrigal "Fa Una Canzona", by Orazio Vecchi. The version that I know is in SATB, but can be adapted/adjusted to SSAA... To make it challenging, require students to learn all three verses (not just the very popular first verse...), sung a capella...

 

Ron Isaacson

Germantown, MD

We just did "Funiculi, Funicula" arranged by Dave & Jean Perry, and the kids LOVED it.  Fun and up-tempo.  Yes, the English version is a different text entirely from the original Italian, but the music is Italian, and a lot of fun.

You might try the song Santa Lucia  a lovely Neapolitan song. www.italiamerica.org has the words and a performance of that and other Italian songs.

Mavis Fletcher UK

For anyone whose followed this thread, I just found out today that the title of the event is "Bella Notte" - this immediately brought to mind the song "This is the Night" from Lady and the Tramp! Problem solved!