Harold A. Decker was born in Belleville, Kansas, and
later moved to Sioux City, Iowa. He earned the A.B. and
M.B. degrees at Oberlin College (Ohio), and was later
honored by his alma mater with the Doctor of Music
Degree. Decker taught at Hawarden, Iowa, then taught
14 years as head of the voice and choral departments at
Wichita University. While in Wichita, he became the
first director of the Wichita Choral Society and the
Wichita Symphony Chorus. In 1957, Decker became
Chairman of the Choral Division at the University of
Illinois School of Music. He co-authored two books,
Choral Conducting: A Symposium, and Choral
Conducting: Focus on Communications. Decker has
served as president of ACDA, received the ACDA
Distinguished Service Award, represented the U.S. at
the 28th annual Handel Conference and Festival in
Halle, Germany, and was presented the Distinguished
Conductor Award at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in
Fontainbleau, France.