Great River Chorale

05/31/2026

Great River Chorale bids a fond farewell to Dr. Mary Kay Geston, Artistic Managing Director from 2010 – 2026, who has retired after leading our organization through a period of remarkable growth and stability. Best wishes, Mary Kay!

And we are thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Brett Robison, Great River Chorale’s new Artistic and Executive Director, who joins us June 1st. Welcome, Brett! Read more about Brett on our website, and stay tuned for exciting news about next season. https://greatriverchorale.org/artistic-staff-and-board/

05/16/2026

For the past 15 years, GRC has been guided by exceptional leadership - leadership that has blended musical excellence with the deeper meaning of music making. Dr. Mary Kay Geston has never just conducted music, she has shaped experiences.

Mary Kay, as you enter into retirement next month, we reflect with gratitude on the ways you have shaped us. Your passion, vision, patience, humor and friendship are treasured. You are a fiercely compassionate leader and your impact will continue to ripple forward in all of us. We wish you a beautiful retirement!

05/05/2026

To our Saint Cloud, MN area church choir director colleagues:
We are in search of extra copies of "Shepherd Me, O God" by Marty Haugen for Mark Nelson's funeral next Tuesday, May 12 in Saint Cloud, MN (we have some, but not enough). Do any of you have this piece in your choir library, and if so, may we borrow it? Please email me at [email protected]. Thanks! MKGeston

05/04/2026

All of us in Great River Chorale are saddened by the death of long-time member Mark Nelson who died on May 1, 2026 in Saint Cloud, MN. Mark's wife Ardis and daughter Kirsten Nelson Roenfeldt sing in the GRC Treble Choir. A funeral will be held Tuesday, May 12 at 11:00 a.m. at Salem Lutheran Church, 90 Riverside Drive, Saint Cloud, MN 56304. Visitation is at 10:00 a.m., and a lunch will follow the service. Past and present GRC members are invited to sing a piece at the service under the direction of Mary Kay Geston. The choir will rehearse at 9:15 a.m. before the visitation.

View Mark Lyndon Nelson's complete obituary, share memories, and explore heartfelt tribute posts from the community.

04/28/2026

That’s a wrap! GRC's 25th anniversary season came to an exuberant close with a full house at our concert "The Music of Living" on Sunday, April 26th. Thank you to everyone who attended! Stay tuned for exciting news about next season. And thank you to our concert sponsors:

AIS Planning
Revermann Lund Ross
Donna Harris, in honor of GRC’s 25th anniversary
Douglas Geston, in honor of Mary Kay Geston
Charles & Judith Welter, in honor of GRC’s 25th anniversary

04/15/2026

Great River Chorale is 25 years old so we're posting some group photos from years past. Be sure to join us on Sunday, April 26 at 3 pm at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud for our 25th anniversary concert "The Music of Living"!

02/21/2026

Calling all past members of Great River Chorale and the GRC Treble Choir!! We're celebrating GRC's 25th anniversary on Sunday, April 26 at our concert "The Music of Living" and we want you to be part of a special 25th Anniversary Choir. Past and current members will join together to sing "Peace Like A River" arranged by Mack Wilberg. We'll provide music for you and will have a dress rehearsal on Saturday, April 25, plus there'll be a short rehearsal on the day of the concert. The concert takes place at 3 pm on Sunday, April 26 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud. Send us an email ([email protected]) if you want to sing or have questions. We hope you'll join us for this special occasion!

01/24/2026

We invite you to check out Great River Chorale's YouTube channel! Sometimes music is the only thing that offers respite from the turmoil of the day, and we just posted some new videos from our 2025 holiday concert that we're sure you'll like!

Great River Chorale is a nonprofit, 50-voice community choir based in Saint Cloud, Minnesota.

01/07/2026

2026 is a Big Year for Great River Chorale!

We begin by sharing some significant news:

After 15 years of dynamic, dedicated service, our talented Artistic Managing Director, Dr. Mary Kay Geston, has announced her retirement following this choir season.

Under her direction, Great River Chorale has grown and flourished, offered meaningful performances, and expanded its reputation as a cornerstone of Central Minnesota’s choral arts. She has grown the organization to include a rapidly growing Treble Choir and supported an environment of inclusion and learning. Mary Kay’s artistry, vision, and care have left an indelible mark on every singer and audience member.

We are deeply grateful for her years of devoted service and wish her the absolute best in retirement!

On Sunday, April 26th, 2026, it will be an honor to perform one last concert with Mary Kay this Spring as we celebrate 25 Years of choral excellence! Please join us to celebrate her and the legacy she has created!

12/09/2025

Thank you to all who attended Great River Chorale’s 2025 holiday concert, On This Silent Night. We loved sharing our music with you and are grateful for your support. The poem below was the first narration in our concert and is a good reminder that if we look for a lovely thing, it never will be far.

“Night” by Sara Teasdale

Stars over snow,
And in the west a planet
Swinging below a star–
Look for a lovely thing and you will find it,
It is not far–
It never will be far.