Heavy Choir, Melbourne’s only dedicated community choir for people who love heavy metal, will perform beneath the iconic cathedral windows with a live band at Chapel Off Chapel on Saturday November 4. The show also features Om, a special contemporary dance collaboration with Robert Sturrock choreography.
Founded in April 2021, Heavy Choir is a growing community of metal fans from across Melbourne who get together every week to learn and sing heavy metal songs. It’s a choir that gives grown-up misfits the opportunity to experience the well-being benefits of singing music they love with other people, regardless of age, gender or ability. Singers bring a mix of skills, from the complete beginner, to ex-band musos, musical theatre types, and the classic: shower power singers. The only prerequisite? A love of heavy metal.
“There are many misconceptions people have about both metalheads and community choirs,” explains founder and Creative Director, Emily Stekly. “Sure, we wear shades of black and listen to music that (sometimes) sounds aggressive, but you’ll also find some of the most welcoming and open-minded individuals among us. We’ve got metalhead parents, people working in law and corporate, and high school teachers – everyone gets along, regardless of age, too.” And as for the general perception of community choirs being ‘daggy’? Stekly laughs: “We’re geeky about metal, but never daggy!”
By adapting the genre to choral arrangements, the choir not only makes singing heavy metal a communal experience, it showcases the depth of creativity and skill that the genre is often overlooked for by those unfamiliar with its diverse sounds and styles. And by combining elements of theatre, it also makes for an exciting stage performance.
The event at Chapel Off Chapel will unite over 30 metalheads from across Melbourne, performing two sets with a live heavy metal band and plenty of theatre. It will also feature a special never-done-before collaboration, with performances by Om, a heavy metal contemporary dance group choreographed by Robert Sturrock.
Tickets https://chapeloffchapel.com.au/show/heavy-choir-band/
