Jaci Davis
Jaci Davis is an accomplished musician, educator, and musical director based in Desert Hot Springs, California. With a Bachelor of Music in Vocal and Choral Performance from the University of Michigan and a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Minnesota, Jaci has built a multifaceted career that spans concert performance, theater, and music education. Beginning her musical journey as a concert pianist at age ten, she has since developed a rich portfolio as a classically trained singer, cabaret performer, and award-winning actress. Her professional focus emphasizes musical theater education, piano and vocal coaching, and choral work, reflecting her belief in lifelong learning and community-building through the arts.
After relocating from Wisconsin to the Palm Springs area, Jaci embraced numerous opportunities to engage with the vibrant local arts scene. She has held key roles including Resident Musical Director at Palm Canyon Theatre and currently at Musical Theater University, where she coaches youth in auditioned programs and camps. Alongside her directing work, Jaci has taught at the college level and worked in K–12 public music education, blending her performance expertise with a passion for nurturing young talent. Her dedication extends beyond the stage, as she actively participates in church music ministry and supports local charities such as the ASPCA, Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, and FIND.
Outside of her professional life, Jaci enjoys theater, cooking, fashion, and creating meaningful memories with family and friends. She is a proud fashion enthusiast with a collection of over sixty pairs of shoes and continues to explore creative expression in both music and everyday life. Known for her dynamic presence and commitment to mentorship, Jaci Davis has become a central figure in the Palm Springs arts community, inspiring young musicians and fostering a love of performance for audiences of all ages.
• K-12 Vocal Music and General Music Teaching Certification
• University of Minnesota - M.M.
• Alpha Omega Pi
• Church music ministry
• Local charities
• ASPCA
• Coachella Valley Rescue Mission
• FIND
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a good work ethic, first and foremost. I'm quite diplomatic and have always been graced with the ability to get along with virtually all types of people, which has been invaluable in this field. I'm also just a good musician - that's something I've developed over time, but it's also something I was born with. It's genetics. I came from a long line of musicians, so I'm really fortunate to have been able to hone that natural ability and actually make a living from it. It's been fantastic, and I get to do it all on my own terms, which makes it even better.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
My father always told me that when someone gives you a compliment, simply say thank you. The reason being is that if you start saying things like 'oh, I wish I wouldn't have done this' or 'didn't you hate that note,' then you are actually questioning that person's opinion and their knowledge. Just say thank you, take the compliment, and let it go. That's been hugely valuable to me. I also tell my students that as long as you have done your due diligence, the performance is going to be what the performance is going to be, and you cannot beat yourself up, especially in live theater. You can't get that note back, you can't get that performance back, you just have to go with the flow and do everything with integrity and due diligence. And finally, I've learned that no doesn't mean no - it just means it's not the right time and it's not the right role for you. That's just the nature of the business, and you have to have a really strong belief in yourself to keep going.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Just network all the time and continue to grow in whatever instrument or area of music you're working in. Always watch others and be an audience to others - just always be in learning mode. Musical theater, for instance, has taken a very different approach in the last 20 years, not only with storylines but also with the approach to the vocal instrument, staging, and everything else. So be aware of the growth and the direction that the changes are going in your industry. And I think just be open - be open to whatever is going to be brought to you based on whatever your path has been. That's my feeling.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field right now is just making a decent wage, sadly. If you're not an equity musician, actor, or behind-the-scenes person in this industry, you have to be working and looking for work all the time. I have a number of students and MTU graduates who are working actors now, either out here or in LA, and they're not equity actors, so they're not getting paid two or three thousand dollars a week. They're getting paid maybe 100 bucks a week, so they have to have a day job or if they want to stay within the industry, they're just not paid well. We have some wonderful theater out here and amazing actors, including a lot of New York transplants and Broadway actors who have chosen to retire here or come out in the winter, so we have a plethora of talent. But the hardest part is trying to keep the lights on while doing what you love to do. It really is a wage issue. That's part of the reason I left Palm Canyon theater after 7 years - I was making more in an 8-hour rehearsal for my current organization than I was in a week there.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Relaxation and the ability to recharge are super important to me in my home life. Being surrounded by people that get you and you get them, where there's an open, loving relationship - that's essential. I've got a lot of wonderful female friends, and my best friend is a gay man. I've got friends that I've had for decades from growing up, so I think it's important to keep a circle of people that love you close. In terms of work, I think you just have to love what you do. It has to fulfill your life. There are so many options we can take in this life, and if you're unhappy in any of them, then you've got to make a change. You have to. Life is too dang short. I love the theory of standing on the graph of your life where you can look forward and see maybe you'll live to your mid or late 80s, and then look behind you and see all the real estate that's gone by. When you think about it, if I'm healthy, that's maybe 20 or 25 more years, so let's make the best of it. I don't ever intend to stop working. I hope that my body and health will hold me up so I can work until I fall asleep and don't ever wake up.