Golden Cabaret Dinner will honor 50 years of Jazz Choir performances at Davis High School

This weekend's song and dance lineup features a special alumni performance during the second of two shows

They're calling it the Golden Cabaret Dinner this weekend at Davis High School, where the incomparable DHS Jazz Choir will celebrate its 50th year of existence with its annual dinner at the Brunelle Performance Hall on the Davis High campus.

Wow, 50 years takes us back to the time when Jerry Brown was beginning the first of his four terms as California governor and the Davis High campus on 14th Street was still considered "new" by most of the oldtimers who grew up here.

The fact that such a student organization could not only survive, but thrive, for half a century is proof of just how incredible their performances have been over the years.

It's not a coincidence, of course, that the founder of the Jazz Choir was none other than the late, great Dick Brunelle, known as a "genius" far and wide for his ability to inspire greatness in every student he met.

One year (1993) in Toronto the Jazz Choir brought down the house with its toe-tapping take on Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag," with Brunelle proudly pounding the piano thoughout. (See video).

A 1993 article from The Davis Enterprise

The next year I had the joy of attending a competition among jazz choirs from around the country in New Orleans where each choir performed not only in front of the judges, but also in front of students from the other choirs they were competing against. The choir had also performed in New Orleans in 1992, and was so outstanding that it was invited back in 1994.

When the 1994 Davis High kids took the stage in New Orleans and started knocking the socks off everyone in the audience with their rendition of an old spiritual number, members of one choir from Mississippi were so taken with the performance that they jumped to their feet and started clapping and singing along as the Davis High kids performed.

It was a memorable moment that still brings tears to my eyes when I think of it.

When Brunelle finally retired at the end of the 1993 school year after 27 years at Davis High, former Superintendent of Schools David Murphy noted that Brunelle was a genius, but said he was "a genius of the heart, and that's why so many people have been attracted to him."

DHS grad William Lundin attended the retirement and said of Brunelle, "He's really good at inspiring people and expecting that they will do their best. He just brings that out in you."

Madrigal member Amy Small said "He's given me such a great foundation. He inspires me and makes me want to push myself even harder."

Mike Monagle, a Jazz Choir member for three years who organized a final musical tribute to Brunelle, including numerous secret rehearsals, said he respected Brunelle more than any other teacher he had at Davis High.

"The students are where his heart is. He doesn't distance himself from his students. I mean, he even rode the roller coaster at Disneyland."

Erin Dunning, my daughter and one of Monagle's Jazz Choir co-conspirators, echoed the sentiments of many of the juniors at Davis High when she said, "I really think he should stay just one more year."

Jazz Choir spokesman Adam Flowers prompted the gathering to start passing the Kleenex when he choked up at the conclusion of his remarks while telling Brunelle how much he would be missed.

Flowers is one of a number of former Jazz Choir members who has gone on to a standout career as both a live musical and singing performer and a teaching artist.

Noted Brunelle with a hoarse voice at the end of the retirement party, "I will miss it very, very much, more than I want to admit. All my memories are of the students and experiences with them, and I don't have any regrets. There have been so many marvelous moments and we packed so much into these years that I'm very satisfied. I am a very lucky man."

This weekend's Golden Cabaret will be presented twice, Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.

Both will feature a dinner plus song and dance performances under the musical direction of Natasha Bach and choreography by Jeff Teague.

As an added bonus, Saturday afternoon's show will feature a special 50th Anniversary Alumni performance.

Friday's dinner begins at 5:15 p.m., with the show at 7 p.m., while Saturday's dinner begins at 2:15 p.m., followed by the show at 4 p.m.

Tickets are available for both the dinner and show, or simply for the show alone.

To purchase tickets, go to jazzchoir.org/cabaret/2025/.

Reach me at bobdunning@thewaryone.com