Creative Team
EMILY STEKLY
Founder
& Creative Director
From shaping the community experience and overseeing the Heavy Choir team, to producing creative events that engage members and audience alike, Emily leads the operational, people, events and brand elements of Heavy Choir.
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With an extensive background across people and culture, marketing and communications, community theatre, and small business, Emily works to ensure Heavy Choir strives towards its vision and mission.
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Creatively, and with a sense of humour, members will also work with Emily throughout the term on performance. You'll learn myriad ways to break the fourth wall, dig deep into heavy metal lyrics, and incorporate headbanging and powerstances at every opportunity.
As for her own influences? You'll find a mood-driven mix of black metal, dark folk, melodic death, thrash and, anything with big vocals, cinematic soundscapes, and theatrical composers on her playlist. Her
DEE DAVIDSON
Music Director, Arrangements
& Choir Master
In Dee's choir sessions, you can always be yourself, have a laugh, and experience singing without the stuffiness or intimidation of traditional choirs. In fact, Dee even speaks in half sentences, made up words and bizarre sounds that are inferred to hold meaning. This is because Dee's brain moves faster than her mouth can, but once you learn to understand the language of Dee, you will find that she holds deep insight and understanding. (She also swears like a sailor.)
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Dee was always singing as a child but began formal vocal training at the age of 18 where she studied jazz, musical theatre and modern styles with some classical techniques.
She has over 25 years of performance experience in musical and amateur theatre, choir ensembles and live rock bands, bringing a combination of creative technique and understanding of dramatic theatre as Music Director, Arranger and Choir Master with Heavy Choir.​
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A huge Rob Halford fan, Dee credits Judas Priest as her gateway to heavy metal.
ALANA K
Choir Master
Alana K is a well-regarded and recognised vocal coach, teacher and mentor within the musical spectrum.
A respected specialist in the metal genre, she has worked with artists such as Cradle of Filth, NeObliviscaris, The Amenta, Mirrors, Suldusk, and Orpheus Omega.
In addition to leading our northside chapter, Alana will be running an exclusive 4-part workshop program specially designed for Heavy Choir, covering the fundamentals and development of harsh vocals.
Alana has formal qualifications at Monash University (Music and Education) and Berklee USA (voice), are complimented by continuous further studies, professional development and by her many years of professional experience as an artist, musician, performer (national and international), studio coach and public speaker.
Alana K has developed many hundreds of vocalists of all ages, in all genres such as pop, rock, funk, jazz, theatre, death metal and more.