In September 2023 Great River Chorale was one of five regional ensembles featured on Classical Minnesota Public Radio by host Steve Staruch, and was selected four times (in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019) for Classical MPR’s “Taste of the Holidays” CD featuring Minnesota’s best regional ensembles.

Dr. Geston received a B.A. degree in voice and teaching certification from North Dakota State University, an M.M. degree in choral conducting from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and a D.M.A. in choral literature and conducting from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Mary Kay’s 31-year career in higher education includes serving as associate professor of music at University of Northwestern, St. Paul, visiting professor of choral studies at University of Colorado, Boulder, and director of choral activities at Northern State University, Aberdeen, South Dakota. She has also taught at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls; University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and Morris campuses; Concordia University, St. Paul; and St. Olaf College. From 2014 to 2019 she was the conductor of the Minnesota Music Teachers Association Honors Concert featuring over 500 student pianists from across Minnesota.

Mary Kay directed church choirs for 22 years starting at the University Lutheran Center in Fargo, ND in 1979. She also directed the adult choirs at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Minneapolis; Grace Lutheran Church, Boulder, CO; Westwood Lutheran Church, St. Louis Park; and Salem Covenant Church in New Brighton.

Choirs under her direction have performed at state and regional professional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA), and with the Minnesota Orchestra. Dr. Geston has directed all-state, honor, and festival choirs in Colorado, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, and has been a guest clinician in Taiwan and South Korea. She has presented interest sessions at state, regional and national conferences of ACDA, the National Association for Music Education, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, MMEA, and the American Guild of Organists.

Geston has held numerous elected and appointed leadership roles in ACDA including president of ACDA North Central Region, president of ACDA of Minnesota, and chair of ACDA of Minnesota’s F. Melius Christiansen Endowment Fund Committee. She received ACDA of Minnesota’s 2012 Choral Director of the Year award. Welcome to Cantabile, Mary Kay.