BHS Choir Students Perform for Annual Cabaret Night

Senior Reagan Kimzey walked on stage. Looking up nervously, she smiled at her family and friends in the audience. All eyes were on her as she began to sing “Always Better” from The Bridges of Madison County. Her voice echoed throughout the hall, and by the end of her performance, the audience was on their feet clapping and cheering. 

Bellaire High School’s cabaret night became an eye-opening experience for not only Kimzey, but for all choir students. While eating dinner, served by the choir students themselves, the audience watched the students perform a variety of songs from “Dead Mom” to “Fly Me to the Moon”. The choir department hosted their 14th cabaret show on Nov. 1-2 at Willow Meadows Baptist Church. 

Kimzey has been a part of choir since freshman year because of her love for singing. Her favorite part about the night was getting to hear other students in a new setting. 

“It is an important event for choir students because it lets us sing solos rather than traditional choral pieces,” Kimzey said. 

Senior Zak Pham performed “Unforgettable” originally by Nat King Cole at his favorite choir event of the year.

“Cabaret is an event to connect and bond with your own choir group,” Pham said. “It is a night to perform and a time to enjoy singing with your friends.” 

This is Pham’s first year apart of choir, but he has attended several of the cabarets and other choir events in the past. 

“I got involved in choir because I wanted to have a new experience my senior year,” Pham said. “I didn’t want to miss out on any of the exciting opportunities Bellaire had to offer.”

Kimzey used her unique style to change parts of the original song to fit her voice. 

“I held some of the notes for shorter periods where I thought it shaped the phrase better,” Kimzey said. 

Junior Kalli Davidson performed “Supermarket Flowers” written by Ed Sheeran. Davidson liked being able to push herself out of her comfort zone and wanted to thank the parents who helped the department as a whole. 

“This show means a chance for all of the choir kids to bond and sing as one,” Davidson said. “Also, we get to give back to the families and friends of the choir students that support us while we get to try something new.” 

Davidson was fond of seeing the wide range of students perform songs that reflected their personality and voice.

“Over the past three years, I have loved being able to see my friends and I grow and gain confidence,” Davidson said. “I am always so proud of the younger, less confident kids and the kids that are new to Bellaire choir when they do solos because it isn’t easy to stand up in front of hundreds of people.”

Cabaret not only helps the choir students thank their supporters, but as Davidson said, “It gives the students a chance to grow as people.”