Mary Anne Sharp has directed the Decatur Civic Chorus for 50 years - 45 years as conductor and 5 years as assistant director. Under her direction, the Chorus has performed in Wales, Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, England, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Scotland, Mexico, and throughout the Southeastern U.S.
Before retiring after thirty-three years of service with the Atlanta Public School System, Ms. Sharp wrote and directed many musicals based on children's literature. Many of her original musicals were taped for WABE and the PBS.
Mary Anne was selected to serve as Artistic Manager of the 1993 DeKalb International Choral Festival, bringing John Rutter to DeKalb County as guest conductor.
Education/Training:
• Graduate of the Decatur School System
• BA - Oglethorpe University (cum laude)
• M Ed - Emory University (thesis was a Programmed Text designed to teach elementary students how to read music)
• Began piano study at age four. Studied piano and voice privately for many years, some with Mary Clark, Director Emeritus of the Decatur Civic Chorus.
• Studied conducting with John Finley Williamson of Westminister Choir School, Norman Luboff, Fred Waring, and many other prominent choral conductors.
Musical Family:
• Mary Lee Sharp (mother), Accompanist for the DCC for 11 years. Also noted piano and voice teacher.
• John Sharp (brother), made debut in Carnegie Hall 1977. Known as excellent opera and oratorio singer.
• Jane Sharp Otten (sister), taught voice at Wittenburg University and is also a choral director.
Achievements:
• Conducted the DCC in two International Choral Competitions - Llangollen, Wales and Spittal, Austria.
• Conducted the DCC on concert tours of Wales, England, Austria, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Scotland, Mexico.
• Conducted the DCC in cathedrals and churches in Vienna, Slazburg, Amsterdam, Madrid, Seville, Toledo, Venice (St. Mark’s), Mexico City, National Cathedral (Washington, DC).
• Conducted concerts on tours of Washington, D.C.; Disney World; World's Fairs in New Orleans and Knoxville; Piccolo Spoleto in Charleston, S.C. (three times); Florida, North Carolina, and throughout Georgia.
• Conducted the DCC at the International Choral Festival in Missoula, MT (2000) – the largest of its kind in the U.S.A.
• Named "Woman of the Week" by DeKalb News Sun (1982)
• Named "Outstanding Woman of DeKalb County" (1990)
• Named "Outstanding Georgia Citizen" by Georgia’s Secretary of State (1987, 1990)
• Selected as Artistic Manager for the 1993 DeKalb International Choral Festival
• Nominated for the prestigious ABBY award for Community Service in the Arts (1997)
• Finalist in the ABBY Lifetime Achievement Award (2000)
• Listed in the 1999 and 2000 Marguis Who’s Who in American Women
• Prepared the DCC for Carnegie Hall debut on June 25, 2006 – Chorus performed Leonard Bernstein’s CHICHESTER PSALMS and John Rutter’s GLORIA under the baton of John Rutter.
• While in New York, conducted the DCC at Ground Zero in a “mini” concert.