At the end of 2025, Decatur Civic Chorus welcomed a new director, Kathryn Hartgrove. The chorus has grown to nearly 70 members under her leadership and still holds rehearsals on Monday evenings, just like in the old days.
In May 2024, the Decatur Civic Chorus was recognized by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp for 75 years of impact in Georgia and around the world.
The Decatur Civic Chorus came to life in 1949 under the leadership of Director Mrs. Dale Clark and accompanist Mary Lee Sharp. In 1964, Mary Anne Sharp (Mary Lee’s daughter) took over the role of Director and led the chorus for 51 years until 2015.
Over the past 75 years, the group has performed in and around Atlanta, including the Governor’s Mansion, Stone Mountain, Fernbank, Spivey Hall and Rich’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. The group traveled extensively in the past. In 1955 DCC members performed on a USO tour of Army camps. The chorus performed in Wales, Ireland, Austria, Spain, Italy, Mexico and even on a Caribbean cruise. The chorus participated several times in the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, and performed in the 2000 International Choral Festival in Montana. DCC performed at Walt Disney World and at the World’s Fairs in Knoxville (1982) and New Orleans (1984).
After many decades with Mary Anne Sharp at the helm, Scott Keesey took over as DCC Director in 2015. For ten years he led the chorus in singing (and joking around) before relocating to South Carolina in 2025.
