The Victoria Rock Choir is a project created by Nick La Riviere, one of Victoria’s busiest multi-instrumentalists.
This choir features accompaniment (and rockin’ solos) by piano, bass, guitar, and drums. Performing music by bands like Supertramp, Queen, Guns N’ Roses, and other fun classic rockers, with arrangements by Nick La Riviere. This is a choir where you can really belt it out!
This is a non-auditioned choir, and we believe that everyone has what it takes to rock with us! Not a musician or a notation reader? No problem, we’ve got you covered. Choir members can use the free online music editor Compose by SmartMusic to play back their parts (see the video below to see how it works). It’s fun, easy, and will also help people learn to read the music.
The choir rehearses Thursdays at the Church of Our Lord at 626 Blanshard St from 6:30 to 8:30. We’re currently planning our third season, which will begin July 4, 2024 and wrap with a concert on December 12. The concert will be entry by donation, with proceeds going to charity – The Cridge Centre. See below to find out more about what they do.
WANT TO JOIN US? Email now to register
choir@nicklariviere.com
Check out the choir at our upcoming concert June 13! (Click the image for full screen)
Check out this article from the James Bay Beacon
(click the image for full screen)
About Nick
Choir director and arranger Nick La Riviere is a professional freelance musician. He tours across Canada, the USA, Mexico, and Europe with various bands including the Juno winning band, The Paperboys. His main instrument is trombone, but he also loves to sing, play bass, piano, conch shells (yes, for real), and is always working on figuring something out on a new instrument. On the video demo below you hear him playing bass, guitar, piano, and singing. He loves playing all styles of music and has performed with iconic rock band 54-40, as well as composed horn charts for their show.
Other bands he plays in include The Yiddish Columbia State Orchestra (Klezmer), Cities (pop/rock covers), Pretzel Logic (Steely Dan covers), and Locarno (original and traditional Mexican/latin music). He also leads his own band, Best Laid Plans, which performs originals and covers depending on what’s right for the gig.
In addition to all this performing, Nick runs 3 other community groups:
•The Nanaimo Rock Choir
•The Jive Big Band
•Soul Source (a 20 piece R&B band performing arrangements by Nick)
Check out some videos those bands made during the pandemic here!
VIDEOS
Here’s a video with some clips from our first concert in November 2023. It was such a fun show, and we raised over $5600 for The Cridge Centre charity!
Not sure if you’re a Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Bass? This should help… and also inspire you with our super fun arrangement of Don’t Stop Believin’! (this is probably about the most complicated arrangement we’ll try by the way!)
Want to skip to the song? Click here!
Check out our system to make it super easy for you to practice your part at home whether you’re a music reader or not!
Q&A
Will there be opportunities for solo singing, or is it all choral?
YES! Some of the arrangements will include solos where one person can take the lead, backed by the choir.
I’m not sure I have what it takes to sing in a choir, can I try it out before I commit?
YES! Come join us for a rehearsal before committing to the season. We’re sure you’ll have a great time.
Are voice roles (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) gender specific?
NO! Anyone is welcome to whatever part suits their vocal range.
For those who can’t read notation, how will rehearsals works?
Whenever possible notation reading members will stand between non-reading members at rehearsal. Also, the music will be given out ahead of the first rehearsal, both in notation and in the online playback system (see the video above) so you’ve got a chance to start getting comfortable with it before singing with the group.
About the charity we support
Homelessness in Victoria is a problem. No one would ever say that the number of people living on our streets is acceptable. As a community, we try to find solutions: more housing. More services. More detox beds. More mental health supports. More.
But what if instead of looking for more, we worked toward less. What if instead of spending tax dollars on treating the problem, we worked on preventing it? What if vulnerable people and families were supported before they became homeless? What if services were offered that prevented homelessness rather than putting a band-aid on the gaping wound of entrenched homelessness?
The Cridge Centre for the Family has been preventing homelessness for the past 150 years by caring for the most vulnerable people of our community: children, seniors, brain injury survivors, women leaving domestic violence, young parents, refugees and immigrants and families who have a child with a disability. When our families and individuals are cared for and supported, the risk of homelessness, addiction and poverty is reduced.