39 Years of the Chatham Choir Cabaret
Originally called the “Mostly Pop Concert,” Chatham University’s choir has been putting on an outstanding fall Cabaret for the past 39 years. We spoke with Stacey Brett Davern, director of choral activities, on what this tradition entails and what the Chatham community can expect from this year’s show.
Stacey Brett Davern, Director of Choral Activities
What is the Cabaret?
Stacey Brett Davern: Cabaret is our first concert in the fall. We host both Cabaret and Candlelight in the fall semester and Cabaret usually acts as a benefit for the choir program. Typically, it is held in Mellon Board Room and we have signature mocktails, food, and raffle baskets. This year, due to COVID restrictions we are recording the performance to be aired on October 16th on YouTube. The performance follows musical theater and jazz standards with 3-4 ensemble pieces, solos, and duets in musical theater style. I took over this event when I started at Chatham 14 years ago and we’ve grown it into the extravaganza that it is today. It’s so much fun and has such an informal and relaxed feel to it. Hopefully, we will be back in person next fall!
The Chatham Choir performing at a previous Cabaret
What can the audience expect from this year’s show?
SBD: I plan all of the music for a whole year in June. I coincidentally chose “Anybody Got a Map” from Dear Evan Hansen without thinking about the new movie that just came out for the Chamber Choir to perform. We are also singing a new selection called “Dawn” from Bravo, a new musical about the holocaust, and “I Got Rhythm” by George and Ira Gershwin. I’ve found that musical theater has changed so much over the years as it incorporates classic and contemporary pop and gospel influences and this show is a good combination of traditional musical theater pieces and contemporary ones as well.
Soloists perform at a Cabaret held in the Welker Room
Why do you find it important to keep this tradition alive despite challenges?
SBD: Musical theater is so timeless. It started back in the 1930s and they’re still making films of shows! It’s relatable to a lot of people because, with musical theater and jazz, you understand the storylines behind the music and relate to it easily.
What’s your favorite part of leading the Chatham Choir?
SBD: COVID made music really challenging and we lost some enrollment in the choir and we’re working on rebuilding it, but it’s great to see that we still have students interested despite challenges. All of the students in the choir love to sing. I love working with them to develop their art and to create this masterpiece together. We work really hard, but we enjoy making music, and hopefully, people will tune in and enjoy what we’ve done.
The Cabaret will be airing via the ChathamU Music Program’s YouTube Channel on October 16th. A copy of the program can be found here.
To learn more about the music program at Chatham, check out our Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Technology, and Bachelor of Music Business.