Donald (Don) R. DuPont and his sister Michele DuPont Eames grew up in a household infused with music. Mr. DuPont, a beloved recently retired music teacher after 32 years from Roaring Brook Elementary School, and Mrs. DuPont Eames performed classics at a Sunday brunch (think delicious Mediterranean-inspired dishes) from the American Songbook on a sunny autumn day at Jazz on Main in Mount Kisco. Classics such as “Moonlight in Vermont” and “A Tisket A Tasket” were expertly sung as adoring fans, many of them former colleagues, came out to hear the talented duo.
Next up, they will perform two sets of a holiday-themed concert called Swinging in the Season at Jazz on Main on Saturday, December 13th. For tickets, visit jazzonmain.com. Expect holiday favorites such as “Winter Wonderland”, “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” (The Christmas Sing) and even an arrangement of “Jingle Bells” by Barbra Streisand.
The DuPont’s father, Don DuPont Sr. and grandfather, Roland DuPont are gifted musicians in their own right, passing down a rich musical legacy to the brother and sister duo. Both DuPonts played the trombone and Don DuPont Sr. started out playing at the Rainbow Room with Glenn Miller and then on the “Milton Berle” and “Ed Sullivan” shows. He eventually became a staff musician for NBC and CBS and later obtained a degree in music education at Columbia Teachers College landing a job teaching music in the Chappaqua Central School District for almost four decades. Don DuPont Sr. taught music at Bell Middle School, which in those days housed K-12th grade.
The DuPont name has been synonymous with music education in Chappaqua since the 1950s. The DuPonts had a music studio at 211 King St called Studio 49. “My dad and grandfather would offer private music lessons for children in Chappaqua and surrounding towns after school,” notes Don, who often helped out there as a young boy selling items such as clarinet reeds or trumpet oil.
In fact, Don DuPont Sr. is still performing and just recently held a big band concert at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center earlier this month featuring the sibling duo as vocalists alongside an 18-piece band comprised of talented local musicians. “Many of them are professionals in other fields but skilled musicians who want to keep my father’s legacy going.”
Don DuPont took up the trombone in elementary school. A love for music proved everlasting and he pursued voice at SUNY Purchase and a teaching certification at Manhattanville College. He started teaching as a young 22-year-old in Nyack but after three years came to the Chappaqua school district where he stayed for the rest of his career.
“I left on a high. And I’m thrilled that they hired an educator who uses the same music philosophy as I do. I like to think that my legacy is that I raised music education to the highest level for elementary school students and increased their appreciation of it and their participation in making music. Many parents have said to me that some of their best moments for their elementary school children was watching them perform,” said Mr. DuPont.
Performance was always a part of the DuPonts’ life as well. “Michelle and I have been singing together since infancy.” Before embarking on his teaching career, the duo sang with the incomparable Hildegarde, a grand doyenne and cabaret singer of the supper club scene in iconic venues such as the Russia Tea Room, Carnegie Hall and Town Hall in Manhattan.
Eventually Hildegarde stopped performing and the duo focused on their teaching careers and raising families. Michelle is also a teacher in the Yorktown School District and Don has a son with his husband Brian Hiller, a now retired music teacher from Grafflin Elementary School.
Their son, Brandon, is also showing musical proclivities and plays the electric guitar and cello.
“Coming back to sing with my sister, Michelle is like a renaissance. The fact that we can do this is beautiful and feels like a full circle moment on stage.”
The duo is hoping to perform more at both NYC venues and in Westchester-based ones. Don even has his eyes on performing internationally as they did many concerts in Switzerland years ago. Adoring fans can check out micheleanddondupont.com for their upcoming performances.
