Atlanta Opera Chorus members Melissa and Gus Godbee sing Decatur’s praises
Interview by Carol Badaracco Padgett
Photo credit: Jillian Bauersfeld Photography LLC
The Decatur community is filled with so many different walks of life. It is this diverse body of performers which is part of our support system, where our dearest friends are and which fills us both with a sense of belonging.
The Atlanta Opera has afforded us the opportunity to perform with our older girls, too, which has truly been a gift. Performing with your kids is an experience unlike any other. It is under the direction of Chorus Master Rolando Salazar, who also is a resident of Decatur.
Our older girls, Gretta (11) and Willa (10), fell in love with performing and have since performed in two different productions of La Boheme with the Atlanta Opera. They had an opportunity to audition for the [Atlanta Opera’s] Children’s Chorus in Puccini’s La Boheme this past opera season. They fell in love with performing and have since performed in two different productions of La Boheme with the Atlanta Opera.
Decatur’s Arts community cultivates an environment filled with people who are compassionate, accepting and eclectic; a sense of being what you want to be and doing what you want to do. There is variety here in Decatur.
Gus just closed the run of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” on the Atlanta Opera’s Mainstage at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center. We will both be in Handel’s Semele, with the Atlanta Opera (June 2025).
Join a choir, pick up an instrument. You are never too old and it is never too late. Singing, music, the arts is something you can do your entire life. But, start now, and get your children involved in the arts at an early age.
There have been so many students who continue to be lovers and supporters of the arts because of their involvement early on in life. They have gone on to med school, to be an accountant, to work at a law firm, but still love and support the arts.
Decatur is full of learning and performing opportunities in the arts. While there are many ensembles and extracurricular arts programs in Decatur, we are directly involved with several high quality performance programs: Decatur Avondale Children’s Choir, St. Thomas More’s Children’s Choir, Willow Music through TruerMU and the Atlanta Opera’s Children’s Chorus.
The two of us actually met in Italy singing in a music program there while we were both studying in our undergrad programs. We were paired up in an opera scene in which we were love interests. Our wonderful friend and colleague Kathryn Hartgrove (Georgia State University, Professor of Voice and Acting Director of Opera) put us together in that scene.
