SOUTH DEERFIELD — When one thinks of high school concerts, they may think of a choir, the marching band or a classical orchestra, but at Frontier Regional School Thursday evening, the public is invited to see a show of a different kind.

The school’s modern band class — also called rock band — is hosting a free two-hour concert on Thursday, April 10, at 6 p.m., alongside Turners Falls High School’s band. The public is invited to come check out the skills the 16 students have developed in class and on their own time. Concessions will be served.

Frontier Band Director Max Sherrill said the concert has elements of a “battle of the bands” with a collaborative spin on it with their counterparts from Turners Falls. He said the show will feature an open-mic period for the students to show off their own skills, as well as rehearsed performances of a variety of rock hits, including Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water,” Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” and Green Day’s “Holiday.”

“It’s more like a festival. We’re just having fun together,” Sherrill said. “The idea is Frontier and Turners will share some of their music and then we’ll sing some songs and play them.”

In total, there are six guitarists and four bassists, alongside several singers, keyboardists and drummers. There will be full band performances, as well as break-off groups. To warm up for the show, the modern band will be performing an in-school concert on Thursday morning for students and staff.

The concert is born out of Sherrill’s modern band class, which is in its second year of being offered. He said the class is another opportunity for students to flex their creative skills in school in an environment different from marching bands or other typical music offerings.

“You get students who might not otherwise participate in the Music Department,” Sherrill said, adding that the show is an opportunity for those students to share their skills. “It gives the recognition that they’re doing amazing stuff. We want to have a chance to show everyone the work and how much musical talent there is.”

Frontier seniors Brayden Reipold and Mason Smith are two members of the band, who said they are excited to perform for both their peers and then the general public later Thursday evening.

“Music just brings you together. You feel so free,” Reipold said. “It’s such a memorable and positive experience. I’ll be able to look back at this.”

Smith said the class, which helped him develop his self-taught musical skills, has created both personal and social benefits for himself.

“Playing guitar became such a way for me to escape,” Smith said, adding that the class is a great way to meet like-minded people who he may not spend time with otherwise. “I get to hang out and meet people in this school that have common interests.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.