Our Song for Peace: “May All Children”
Composed by Kenneth K. Guilmartin
May, may all, may all children,
May all people, everywhere, live in peace.
Back in 1986, when Ken Guilmartin was teaching at his daughter's school and busy developing Music Together, he wrote a song for the school's celebration of the 40th anniversary of UNICEF (the United Nations Children's Fund). Originally called "Solstice Song," it was about the simple, heartfelt wish that all children—that everyone—might live in peace.
After September 11, 2001, Ken rearranged and retitled the song "May All Children" in memory of the events of that day, and in 2002, "May All Children" was included in the Music Together Sticks Song Collection. And in 2017, the award-winning children's musician Laurie Berkner recorded her own version of the song in honor of the International Day of Peace on September 21.
Beyond the Music Together® Classroom
Since 2002, the sheet music for “May All Children” has been available free of charge at www.musictogether.com/may-all-children for anyone who would like to perform it. In the past twenty-one years, more than 1000 school groups, children’s and adult choirs, places of worship, and other community and school organizations have made the song part of their concerts, recitals, holiday celebrations, and more. In lieu of royalties, performers are asked to make a donation to UNICEF.
Listen to the Song
Perform "May All Children" in Your Community
To keep world peace and children's well-being foremost in our minds, Ken has made "May All Children" available here, with royalties donated to the United States Fund for UNICEF. He hopes that those who work with children or with music in any way will use this song and sing out its wish for the world.
“May All Children” Performance Log
Performers are asked to share the details of their use of the song with us for our Performance Log. Check it out! Here are just a few videos that have been shared with us over the years. We are grateful to have been a part of so many commemorations of peace from all corners of the globe!
You're invited to register your performance and download the sheet music. Please go to the Performance Log to register and view the many ways the song has been performed across the globe. The download is free, but we encourage you to make a donation based on music publishing industry standards ($0.15 per paper copy), 100% of which will go to UNICEF. Please contact the publisher for broadcast, paid performances, or mechanical use.
Immanuel Christian School – Hazleton, PA
(English and Ukrainian)
Led by Music Together Director Marina Kuchar (Ukrainian native)
Detroit Children’s Choir – Detroit, MI
with Hummingbirds Music Together
Gimnasio Moderno Primary School Choir – Bogotá, Colombia
American Boychoir – Hopewell, NJ
at Music Together® Worldwide
When registering performances, there is also an invitation to leave comments about their community’s experience with the song.
The song touches hearts with its powerful message, which is so needed in the world that we find ourselves in. Thank you for sharing it with everyone!
We are adopting this song to sing at several of our concerts in the future as well. This inclusive choir is mainly for children with special needs and their siblings.
Part of the Children's House Curriculum is promoting peace. The Lead Teacher asked me, the music teacher, if I knew a good 'peace' song. Thanks to this website, I was able to share 'May All Children' with the children I teach. ‘May All Children’ has become one of the children's favorite songs and they look forward to sharing it with their families!
Thank you for offering this song to the world. We are a small, all-girl Christian children's home with our own small school. I share music with these girls, and I include ‘Let There Be Peace On Earth’ in every performance. When I heard ‘May All Children,’ it seemed the perfect fit to lead into it.
The beautiful simplicity of the song, and children performing via sign language touched our hearts and brought tears to our eyes as we strive to create peace in our world.
Thank you for providing a vehicle for educating children about peace.
You're invited to register your performance and download the sheet music. Please go to the Performance Log to register and view the many ways the song has been performed across the globe. The download is free, but we encourage you to make a donation based on music publishing industry standards ($0.15 per paper copy), 100% of which will go to UNICEF. Please contact the publisher for broadcast, paid performances, or mechanical use.
Download the Sheet Music