In the early 1990s a small group of local singers gathered once a year, practiced daily for a week and then sang Christmas songs at the Greater Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce December meeting. After this group, known as The Chamber Singers disbanded, several of them mentioned how much they missed getting together to sing. Among those were Doris Jarvis, Sandra McGuire and Grady Sue Saxon.

Encouraged by those who wanted to continue, Grady Sue, as the 1994 president of the Leeds Arts Council, Inc. (LAC), began calling local singers to see if there was an interest in forming a community chorus. The interest was there and so she asked the LAC to co-sponsor the group if she could get a matching grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. LAC agreed to do so.

Using music borrowed from the Pell City Community Chorus and local churches, the small group came together with high hopes of becoming a full-fledged chorus. Oficially The Leeds Community Chorus came into being February 17, 1994. Sandra McGuire was the director and Nell Richardson was the accompanist.

A matching grant was secured which allowed the purchase of some music and a small stipend for the director and accompanist. The chorus decided to take a step beyond "singing for the fun of singing" and made plans for its first concert. The concert was on August 28, 1994 with Ellen Denton as the director and Janet Spears as the accompanist. The theme of the concert was "Patriot Songs". The chorus also performed a Christmas concert in November, 1994. When Ellen moved away, Dell Smith stepped in to hold the singers together until Sue Jones became the director. Currrently the director is Ron Singer and Dell Smith is the accompanist.

Over the years, there have been setbacks when the chorus would shrink to a handful of faithful members; however, the group hung on, determined to continue. Their diligence and loyalty paid off as gradually, the chorus began to grow. It now bosts twenty-five to thirty voices.

The Alabama State Council on the Arts helped the LAC with chorus expenses until 2002. At that time they determined that LAC had grown sufficiently to handle the sponsorship on its own. LAC is pleased with the progress of the chorus and the support of the community.

The chorus gathers twoce a year for once-a-week one-hour rehearsals for eight to ten week. Membership is open to all who can sing and will commit themselves to the rehearsal time necessary to prepare for the concerts.

To join the chorus or for additional information, call the Leeds Theatre and Arts Center at 699-1892. Leave a message and someone will return your call.