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In January, we were delighted to welcome Mary Tuuk Kuras as the newest member of Chorus America’s board of directors. Mary spoke with our team about her multi-industry executive career, her lifelong love of choral music, and why she’s passionate about joining the board.
Choral musicians know that ensemble skills like collaboration, communication, discipline, and confidence serve singers in any career they choose to pursue. Mary Tuuk Kuras's choral roots led her to a 33-year executive career across the finance, retail, and performing arts sectors. Throughout this professional journey, choral music has remained her anchor.
Choral Roots
From elementary school chorus to music studies at Calvin College, choir was at the heart of Mary’s formative years. Her schedule at Calvin was demanding: when she wasn’t singing with Capella, she was accompanying choirs at the organ or gigging in the Grand Rapids community. She recalls fondly how while in school, she performed as a chorus member and soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Chamber Choir of Grand Rapids. The beauty of the masterwork, the excitement of a new ensemble’s launch, the pride of adding to the city’s cultural fabric, and the unforgettable camaraderie among the singers solidified for Mary that there is nothing quite so meaningful and rewarding as group singing.
Leadership Across Sectors
After obtaining her J.D. and M.B.A., Mary worked as an attorney in Chicago before launching a career in financial services with Fifth Third Bancorp. In her twenty years at Fifth Third, Mary quickly gained a reputation for her leadership prowess: she held numerous executive roles and was named one of the "25 Women to Watch in Banking" by the American Banker magazine for seven consecutive years.
As her financial career skyrocketed, Mary remained active in church choirs and semi-professional ensembles across Cincinnati and Western Michigan, including the Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble. Of these ensembles, the Grand Rapids Symphony is the closest to her heart. She entered the organization as a singer in the Symphony Chorus, then joined the Board of Directors. The personal passion for performing arts converged fully with her profession in 2019, when she was named President and CEO of the Symphony. Her many achievements in that role include leadership of their 90th anniversary concert season, revitalization of education programs, innovation and continuity during the Covid-19 pandemic, and meeting her husband, Patrick, a fellow singer in the choir.
A New Chapter
After her retirement from the Symphony in 2022, Mary founded MTK Practical Leadership, where she provides an array of consulting services to nonprofits and businesses. She enjoys helping performing arts organizations with creation and sustainability, and she is passionate about mentoring the leaders of those organizations.
Mary remains an inter-industry leader. She serves on the Boards of two public companies and of her alma mater, Calvin University (formerly Calvin College). She is now delighted to contribute to Chorus America’s work as a member of the Board. “Having an opportunity to contribute to the mission of Chorus America on a national and international stage, coupled with my background in business and law and across different sectors, makes this especially exciting for me,” Mary shared. “Serving on this Board after being a life-long choral musician and being part of choruses in many different capacities is deeply rewarding. It feels like a perfect fit.”
Mary and Patrick look forward to attending the 2024 Chorus America conference in Atlanta. We encourage you to say hello!
