It was a huge hit right from day one.
Within days of starting up, more than 100 people had signed up to sing with the Chilliwack Rock Choir. And months later, when tickets went on sale for their very first concert on April 14, the show sold out within a few weeks.
Nick La Riviere of Victoria, who created the choir and three others like it, called it an instant success.
“It’s a group that can appeal to a lot of different people: people who have choir experience but want something different from the standards, and people who normally wouldn’t be interested in a choir but love rock music,” he said.
La Riviere has written a lot of musical arrangements for various groups, his parents were part of community choirs, plus he leads community music projects in Victoria which involve about 20 musicians.
But, he wanted to start something bigger.
“I wanted to create a choir that’s different from those existing groups, and suits the energy and excitement I like to have,” he said. “In the first day that I opened registrations for the Victoria choir I knew I was onto a good idea.”
It started with a rock choir in Victoria, then he kicked off another one in Nanaimo, next was Vancouver, and most recently Chilliwack. The local choir began in October and there are about 150 members.
La Riviere does all the arrangements, incorporating four-part harmony into the rock songs and detailed notation for the rhythm section.
“I try to capture all of the subtle details in the original recordings that made them hits, and keep them rocking and soulful, rather than simplifying the parts which makes everything sound more ‘square.’ Then I add my own touches to them to make them suit the choir, adding additional vocal parts to the music.”
The rock choir has a four-piece band with guitar, piano, bass, and drums at every rehearsal.
“Nick is incredibly driven. When he’s got something in his mind, he makes it happen,” said Andy Hillhouse, director of the Chilliwack Rock Choir.
He met La Riviere at a festival in Chilliwack where they connected and decided to start up the rock choir here.
Hillhouse, along with other Chilliwack members, use words like “unique,” “eclectic,” and “boutique” to describe the local ensemble.
Steve Ricardo is a metal-guitar player who’s released more than 200 albums and has played with Bif Naked, Jann Arden and other popular artists. He said the rock choir is outside of his box, but really cool.
“I’m used to five guys in a sweaty room doing a tour. When I experienced my first night, listening to Bohemian Rhapsody, it took me to the next level. I’m like, ‘Oh, this is golden,’” Ricardo said, adding that it’s “lively, fun, and loud.”
Judy Clark has been a soloist her whole life, and said she loves being part of a group.
“I’ve never heard harmony like this with rock music,” she said. “You don’t expect that out of Hey Jude, or other numbers that we sing along to in the car. You just don’t listen to harmony. But to hear the bass, and to hear the tenors and to hear the altos, and the sopranos come together – that’s majestic.”
She called it “beautiful” to see the happiness and joy in the singers, regardless of their experience, as they put their arms around each other in mentorship and support during rehearsals.
“No one feels left out,” she said.
Clark said she’s also impressed with the tools and training offered to the choir members. La Riviere has put together audio demos of their versions of every song using AI voices.
Singers can practise at home with the rhythm section (drums, keys, guitars, bass), alongside “the ‘almost perfectly’ realistic AI singers,” La Riviere said.
“Nick is one of the most brilliant musicians and composers. The way he has transposed the music to make it easy practice, and the learning tools are just second to none,” Clark said. “Those that don’t have confidence can practise in their private room at home and then come to choir equipped. He’s lifting people up.”
Choir members have connected outside of rehearsal time as well, gathering together for barbecues, karaoke parties and other social events.
The Chilliwack Rock Choir’s sold-out inaugural concert is Monday, April 14 at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre, which seats more than 500 people. All proceeds will support Chilliwack Community Services.
“The concert feels more like a rock show than a choir concert. We’re really adding something to the music – we’re not just performing covers,” La Riviere said. “We’re approaching the music in a way that respects the original details that made it great, while adding something original with the power of all these voices. It’s a musical treat working with these groups.”
Rehearsals for season two begin on April 28, and they are looking for more bass singers to join. There’s a special mid-season performance at Harrison Festival of the Arts on Friday, July 18. Their next concert at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre is on Monday, Oct. 6.
For more info, go to nicklariviere.com/chilliwack.
