A Roaring Gala: Recap

On October 17th, patrons and brass fans came from far across Colorado to convene under the enchanting, glimmering ceiling of the Chambers Grant Salon to celebrate our 40th Anniversary. A descent down a glamorous winding staircase into this stunning venue kicked off the evening— each guest showed up dressed to the nines for this Roaring 20s themed event. Despite our suggestion of cocktail attire, gentlemen arrived in full suits and ladies brought out their finest evening wear— the night welcomed many iterations of flapper-style dresses, feathers, and fur. Our evening warmed up with the help of fresh hors d’œuvres and flowing giggle water from the stellar service at the cash bar. Scenes from the past forty years of our nonprofit's history rotated on projector screens throughout the venue— outtakes from our iconic costumed photoshoots, cherished memories like Denver Brass at Red Rocks, and the very first photos of us in black and white on the back porch of the Gebhard Mansion. For new and seasoned fans alike, this backdrop set the tone for the evening as it pulled on the heartstrings of nostalgia. Our programming of course highlighted the undeniable talent of our musicians as the large ensemble performed works from the 1920s era including Fats Waller’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and Gershwin’s “Fascinating Rhythm.” Throughout the evening, Ken Singleton, Joe Docksey, and Kathy Brantigan all took the time to share their favorite Denver Brass moments. Tales of comical performance mishaps and falling in love offered nostalgia and a trip down memory lane for many of us in the Denver Brass family. After the candid storytime, it was our great pleasure to honor our beloved Chuck Brantigan and Joe Docksey with the awards of Founder & Visionnaire and Principal Trumpet Emeritus, respectively. It became obvious throughout the night that the very essence of the Denver Brass is inextricably bound to the spirit and dedication of these two lifelong musicians. Of course, we had to conclude the program with Prima & Mundy’s “Sing, Sing, Sing!” before distributing a round of champagne- we raised our glasses in celebration of our history and as a toast to our future together. 

The Denver Brass family has compounded over the past four decades, and we’d love to hear your favorite memories with us since 1981 as well. If you feel so inclined, send us an email with your favorite DB moments to kelly@denverbrass.org.