The DeKalb Festival Chorus is a community chorus that has served the greater DeKalb area since the 1970s through presenting concerts of classical and contemporary choral music performances. Its membership includes volunteer singers from DeKalb and surrounding counties of Boone, Kane, Rock, and Ogle counties.

Founded more than 35 years ago by William Voltmer, choir director at First Lutheran Church of DeKalb, DFC was further developed under the direction of Thomas Rossing. Ellwood Smith, a music professor at Northern, became the third music director and moved the chorus to the campus of NIU in 1975. Jennifer Whiting directed the chorus from 2004 to 2011, followed by Seth Houston, 2012 to 2014 and Steve Grives, 2014 to 2015. The chorus is currently directed by Paul Marchese.

Both chorus members and our audiences come from across DeKalb County, and our outreach extends to neighboring areas of Kane, Boone, and Ogle counties. We frequently work collaboratively with area musicians including recent joint performances with the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra; Rock Valley College Choir; the Prairie Brass Band of Arlington Heights; and various student, community, and professional musicians from the Northern Illinois corridor.

Today's chorus includes several members who have been with the group since its beginning, while others have joined over the years to bring the current membership to more than 40 singers. DeKalb Festival Chorus is the only chorus of its kind in the area.

DFC presents two to three concerts per year, in the fall and spring. The DeKalb Festival Chorus is a non-profit 501 (c3) organization.