This unique choir features accompaniment (and rockin’ solos) by piano, bass, guitar, and drums. Performing music by bands like Kansas, The Strumbellas, Fleetwood Mac, Toto, Elton John, Loverboy, Pat Benatar, and other fun rockers. This is a choir where you can really belt it out! Arrangements are for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, along with the band… and on some songs there’s the opportunity to sing a solo part, backed up by the whole choir and band!
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. We’ve got amazing AI vocal demos to practice with, along with some other awesome tools to help make everyone 100% confident!
The choir rehearses Thursdays starting January 8 from 6:15 to 8:15 at St Titus Church (680 West 49th Ave near the Langara 49th Skytrain stop on the Canada Line) – please don’t show up without registering. We wrap up the season of rehearsals with a performance at The Michael J Fox Theatre on June 22nd. Proceeds from the concert are donated to charity – Lookout Society. Note: There is no rehearsal on April 2 (week off).
If you need to miss some sessions, no problem! You’re not required to be at every single rehearsal in order to take part. This is a FUN choir, and we don’t want it to feel like a lot of pressure to enjoy.
The music (charts, demos, practice tools) are all ready to go for the season, and you’ll receive all that as soon as you register.
want to join us? click to register now!
ABOUT CHOIR directors Juhli WeisS AND MAtthew Smith
Juhli Conlinn Weiss has a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Voice from Capilano University, and a Bachelor of education from UBC. For the last 20 years, she has been actively singing both in the Vancouver music scene, and internationally. She has sung in groups ranging from traditional jazz, to top forty cover bands, to original bands as both a lead and a supporting musician. Highlights include singing with Company B Jazz Band since 2007, singing with Khari McClelland for his CBC feature “Freedom Singer” in 2016, touring with CR. Avery, and leading 200 Suns in a feature spot at the 2015 Vancouver TD jazz festival.
She has directed community choirs since 2015 and has worked with private piano and voice students for the last 15+ years. Juhli loves sharing her joy of music making with others and unlocking new levels of musicality.
Matthew Smith is a musician and music educator based in Vancouver, BC. Matthew holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Capilano University, where he studied vocal performance, arranging, and piano in the school’s renowned Jazz Studies department.
He has performed at various venues throughout the city, including the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, the Cellar Jazz Club, and Frankie’s Jazz Club. He has also performed with some of Vancouver’s premiere vocal ensembles, including Laudate Singers, Phoenix Chamber Choir, and the Vancouver Chamber Choir as a member of Pacifica Singers.
Matthew is the former director of the Impromptu Rock Choir drop-in choral project, and is currently the director of two community choirs, the Vancouver City Singers and the Chorisma Vocal Jazz Choir.
about Choir Creator Nick La Riviere
Choir creator, organizer, and arranger (chart writer) 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, and conch shells (yes, for real). 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. In addition to performing, Nick directs the Victoria Rock Choir, The Nanaimo Rock Choir, The Soul Source R&B Band, and The Jive Big Band.
VIDEOS
Check out these highlights from our show in June 2025! Click here for a playlist that includes complete songs
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 how we make awesome demo tracks using AI voices for our members to practice with!
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.
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.
Can I come check out the choir before committing?
YES, there is a trial option! To register for the trial select trial deposit in the form below. Your deposit is fully refundable only if you attend the first session and let me know by email that the choir isn’t for you in the 2 days following the first rehearsal. That will allow me to admit someone from the wait list in time for the next rehearsal. Note the a trial is only possible at the first rehearsal of the season so we can solidify our membership early on, with everyone getting to know the music together.
Are voice roles (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) gender specific?
NO! Anyone is welcome to whatever part suits their vocal range.
What age are choir members?
We welcome adults of all ages!
Is there a fee?
Yes – there are a lot of expenses with this group including a paid 4 piece band at all rehearsals, choir leader, rehearsal space, performance venue, administration.. However even with all this it costs only $12/rehearsal!
Can I split up the choir fee in to smaller payments?
Yes, no problem! If you select the trial payment option you’ll automatically get an email that includes a link to split up the fee.
About the charity we support
Lookout Housing and Health Society is a non-profit charitable organization established in Vancouver in 1971. They provide shelter, housing, outreach, health and support services to marginalized individuals who face complex barriers to housing, health and support services. Everyday, they provide minimal barrier, trauma informed services that enable individuals to work towards greater stability and independence through activities such as cooking, budgeting, basic life skills, food security, basic education and pre-employment programs to over 3,000 people
Questions? Contact sing@vancouverrockchoir.com
Please use the registration form below. If your section is full, please join the wait list (click here)
This secure payment is processed by Stripe. If you’ve completed the registration successfully, you should see a thank you screen and immediately receive an email from Jotform with a welcome email that has all the details on dates, times, and a link to download the music. Watch your spam folder if you don’t receive it. Receipts are available on request. Refund policy: In order to be refunded you must either let us know by email that you won’t be able to attend after all before January 1st so there’s time for us to allow someone from the wait list to take your spot, or attend the first session and let us know the choir isn’t for you by January 10 (as described in the trial information above). We wish we didn’t have to say it, but if you’ve communicated that you won’t be joining us beyond the refund deadline, attending the first rehearsal isn’t a loophole to be refunded. We have the trial option set up for people who intend to join us, but want to make sure we’re a good fit for them before committing, and we have the refund deadline because it takes time to communicate with people on the wait list when someone is no longer able to join us.