❄️ Storytelling Through Song: How GCA Development Director Mary Kate Murnen Channels Music and Leadership as Elsa

This holiday season, our Girls Choral Academy community has even more reason to celebrate: Mary Kate Murnen, our Director of Development & Communications, is lighting up the stage as Elsa (Alternate) in Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s production of Frozen the Musical! We sat down with Mary Kate to talk about how her role as Elsa connects to her lifelong love of storytelling, music, and leadership, and how experiences like those at GCA shaped her journey as a confident performer.

Q: Mary Kate, first of all congratulations! How does it feel to step into the role of Elsa?

Mary Kate: Thank you! It’s honestly been magical. Elsa is such a complex, iconic character, and bringing her to life on stage is both thrilling and challenging. Every performance reminds me why I fell in love with theater in the first place, it's all about the way music, story, and emotion can come together to create something that moves and connects people.

Q: How does performing in Frozen relate to your work at Girls Choral Academy?

Mary Kate: GCA has always been about so much more than just singing. We teach girls to step into leadership roles, to collaborate, and to find their own voices (both literally and figuratively) and that’s exactly what performing in theater is all about. Every rehearsal, every song, every moment on stage requires confidence, preparation, and teamwork. The leadership and performance skills I developed growing up through my own schooling and extra curricular experiences —the same kinds of opportunities I now see being offered in our programs—absolutely inform the way I approach this role.

Q: You’ve worked with storytelling in many ways through your role at GCA. How does that translate to playing Elsa?

Mary Kate: Storytelling is at the heart of both music and theater. At GCA, we’re constantly helping girls tell their own stories through song, performance, and confidence building opportunities. Playing Elsa is another way for me to tell a story that resonates with audiences of all ages. Her journey is all about freeing herself from expectations of who others think she should be, connecting with the people that matter to her, and building confidence and community. these are the same things we aim to instill in every girl at GCA!

Q: Any advice for our GCA students who dream of performing or stepping into leadership roles?

Mary Kate: Absolutely! Take every opportunity you can to challenge yourself, whether it’s singing a solo or trying something completely new to you. Confidence comes from practice and from taking risks. And most importantly, remember that the skills you build whether though music or elsewhere, will give you the tools to succeed in all areas of your world!

Q: How can the GCA community support you during this run?

Mary Kate: Come see the show! I perform as Elsa during Thursday performances and Saturday matinees, and the run continues through December 21. It’s a beautiful production, filled with the music and heart of Disney’s Frozen, plus new songs written for the stage. And for me, it’s so meaningful to see our students and families in the audience. It reminds me why the work we do at GCA is so important.

❄️ Experience the Magic

We hope our GCA families and supporters will cheer on Mary Kate as Elsa and see first-hand how music, storytelling, and confidence come to life on stage. This is a wonderful reminder of the transformative power of arts education, a lesson our students experience every day at Girls Choral Academy.

Catch Mary Kate as Elsa: Thursday evenings and Saturday matinees at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, get more information on available showtimes at https://www.grct.org/frozen

Performance Run: November 14 – extended to December 21, 2025

(Wednesdays – Saturdays at 7:30pm, Saturdays* and Sundays at 2:00pm.

Rated: G for the whole family; recommended for ages 6 and up due to some action, instances of death, and mild rude humor, much like the original film