The word choir conjures up groups of people in church robes singing hymns or carollers belting out 'Jingle Bells' at Christmas time.
But what about a group of people singing Black Sabbath's 'Crazy Train,' Metallica's 'Nothing Else Matters' or Avenged Sevenfold's 'Afterlife'?
The Pleasant Mountain Music school is looking to do just that; this week they'll be holding a free information session to figure out what it'll look like as they've had students and others express interest in the idea. Co-owner Chris King says it started with people talking about how they'd be interested in learning how to sing metal-style vocals.
"Part of it was because one of the instructors we've hired is Kelsey Luo," King says. "She has a background in both formal classical piano and also heavy metal vocals."
Now the school has enough interest they're considering anything from a group class or performance choir, depending on the people who are interested.
"For this metal choir idea we thought it was good to have a night together to see what people are thinking about it," says King.
Those interested are encouraged to attend the free info session, and bring ideas on what a metal choir could sing. With such a diverse genre of music, King notes there are options.
"We're probably going to explore all of it," he says. "We'll start with easier styles; we could start with some early Black Sabbath."
From there he sees a path following the history of metal, but at the same time notes determining the group's direction will involve participants, and could go any number of directions, including singing pop songs as a heavy metal choir.
"It depends on what sounds good and what people want to do," King says, adding it'll likely work as a class with performances in the future.
The free information session will be Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 7:15 p.m. at the school at 2435 A Granville St. (they recently moved from Mount Pleasant). A second session will take place on Dec. 6 at the same time and location.
