Q&A with Mary Sumners, immediate Past President
1. What does being a FRIENDS of the Minnesota Orchestra mean to you?
To me, being a Friend of the Minnesota Orchestra means being part of the connection between extraordinary music and the community it serves. It means supporting this world-class Orchestra, certainly, but also helping children encounter orchestral music for the first time, helping audiences know the musicians as people, and creating a community of people who believe music enriches our lives.
What I have come to appreciate most is that you don't have to play an instrument to participate in making music matter. As a FRIEND, you can help open that door for someone else.
2. What are you most proud of during your term as President?
I'm most proud that we didn't simply have two successful years — we strengthened FRIENDS for the years ahead.
When I became President, we had just celebrated our 75th anniversary, and I felt an enormous responsibility to the generations of leaders and volunteers who had built this organization. My goal was that, when my term ended, FRIENDS would be stronger in its membership, its financial position, its reputation and its ability to fulfill its mission.
I'm proud that we accomplished that while continuing to bring the joy of music to thousands of children. We premiered the 19th Kinder Konzert commission, expanded our reach into the community with our new collaboration with the Three Rivers Park System & Silverwood Park, strengthened our partnership with the Minnesota Orchestra, had strong fundraising success, and took an important step toward long-term continuity by adding professional executive leadership.
But none of that was my accomplishment alone. What makes me proudest is what a our amazing Board and committed volunteers accomplished together.
3. What is your favorite Minnesota Orchestra memory?
There have been so many extraordinary ones — seeing Yo-Yo Ma perform and having the opportunity to meet Joshua Bell certainly rank very high. But one of my favorite memories may actually be much more recent: hosting our Pizzas & Piccolos event at our home.
Three extraordinary Minnesota Orchestra flutists, Adam Kuenzel, Greg Milliren and Roma Duncan, performed chamber music for a small group of us, and I remember thinking, ‘Who knew flute chamber music could be this incredible?’ To sit just a few feet away from musicians of that caliber and hear exquisite chamber music in the intimate setting for which it was originally intended was truly unforgettable.
What made it even more meaningful was knowing that these musicians had generously donated their time to support FRIENDS. It was a wonderful reminder that, despite being a world-class orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra can also feel remarkably personal — musicians sharing their extraordinary gifts with people in our community simply because they care.
4. If you could describe your term in three words, what would they be?
Ambitious. Collaborative. Joyful.
The first two are self-explanatory. “Joyful” because underneath all the administrative work, budgets, contracts, board meetings and fundraising, the product is joy: children making discoveries, audiences meeting musicians, members forming friendships, and extraordinary music.
5. What is one piece of advice you would give to the next President?
Keep the mission at the center, listen to the people who care deeply about the organization, and make decisions with the next generation of FRIENDS in mind.
FRIENDS is an incredible organization — nurture the relationships with board, volunteers, members, and donors. They are our institutional capital. Bring people together. Make them feel welcome, valued and connected to something meaningful. Create an organization where people enjoy being involved, where enthusiasm is contagious, and where members naturally want to invite others to join them.