Salute To a Leader

I’ve been trying all week to think about how to salute an amazing leader on today, as she retires after 20 years.

Ginny Kerwin has been a transformative, visionary leader of MSVMA as Executive Director for the past two decades. Her leadership is seen in the quality of the singing across the state, in the implementation of new initiatives, and in the consistent collegiality and forward-looking nature of the boards (certainly the ones I served on!).

Personally, I have been blessed to work with Ginny closely on various initiatives – I’ll remember fondly two trips to Big Rapids to discuss, once, establishing the All-State Jazz Choir, and once, a composition project. In each case, Ginny showed creative thinking, curiosity, and a mind always on the future of the organization and choral music in the state.

I was also lucky to have Ginny join us when we sang at the 2014 World Choir Games in Riga, Latvia. Ginny’s support there was tremendous and deeply appreciated.

I have no doubt that Ginny’s service to choral music is far from over, even as her tenure with MSVMA ends. I look forward to seeing what comes next from her.

Thank you, Ginny, for your leadership and for inviting me, and so many others, into your vision of the future.