by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org
LEAWOOD — Many changes happen in the life of a parish over four decades.
“But one thing that’s always been consistent [here] is Ellen Tuttle,” said Sue Sabaugh.
Tuttle has been the director of music at Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood for 40 years. The parish honored her during a Mass, reception and surprise program on Sept. 19.
“We just appreciate her so much — what she has given to our church, to our school, to Christmas, to funerals, to Easter, to Mass,” said Sabaugh, a Curé parishioner. “She is a huge part of our faith community.”
Father John Riley, pastor of Curé, said Tuttle has touched countless lives through her ministry.
“Her music has become such an important part of the life and spirit of Curé of Ars,” he said, “and I am deeply grateful for the countless hours, the joyful service and the love she has poured into this ministry.”
Changing her tune
“Not in my wildest dreams would I ever have thought this would be what I was doing,” said Tuttle, who directs the adult choir, men’s choir, youth choir and handbell choir and teaches the handbell elective for middle schoolers at Curé of Ars School.
She was studying elementary education at the University of Kansas in Lawrence with plans to become a teacher when her path began to change.
It started when she decided to stop by the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center three months into her freshman year after walking past it every day.
Msgr. Vince Krische, the chaplain at the time, happened to be at the door and offered her a tour.
“And he mentioned the choir,” said Tuttle. “I thought, I’ve never sung in a choir before. That sounds kind of fun.
“I joined the choir, and it rejuvenated my faith.”
Tuttle grew up in a musical family. She and her five siblings took piano lessons starting in second grade, and she took organ lessons at KU.
“My parents instilled a love of music from the very beginning,” said Tuttle. “We’d go to symphony concerts, and my mom always had music going on in the house — whether it be musicals or classical music.”
Tuttle didn’t expect to incorporate music into her profession until her roommate, Cathryn Hund, proposed an idea.
Cathryn’s brother Father Francis Hund was the new associate pastor at Curé, and he asked his sister if she knew of anyone at St. Lawrence who might be interested in being the parish’s choir director.
“I went to Curé for the audition, and Father Francis pulled me aside and said, ‘Don’t worry about this. You have the job,’” recalled Tuttle with a laugh.
After a two-hour audition in front of 10 people, she was officially offered the gig, which started at 10 hours a week. When Msgr. Charles McGlinn became pastor the next year, he hired Tuttle on full time.
“And the rest is history,” she said.
Preaching to the choir
“Ellen had a vision for a unified music program that would be inclusive of many different styles of music,” said Mark Fortino, “including traditional hymns, classically-driven anthems, guitar, Latin, chant, contemporary Christian — all under the umbrella of keeping the music within the liturgy sacred.
“This vision, along with an amazingly caring personality that people just gravitated towards, resulted in a music program that grew and grew and grew over time.”
Fortino met Tuttle when he was a sophomore in high school and his older brother John was a cantor with Tuttle at KU. They’ve been close ever since.
“When I graduated from KU in 1988,” said Fortino, “Ellen told me, ‘I don’t care where you live — you are singing for me at Curé of Ars!’
“So, although my wife Sarah and I settled in Olathe, we commuted in for 25 years.”
Kate Wiese, a member of the Curé choir for more than 26 years, said Tuttle inspires musicians to want to be part of the choir program.
“She is kind, patient, generous and thoughtful,” said Wiese. “She rolls with the punches during choir practices, laughs easily and is moved to tears by the beauty of music.”
Exemplary performance
“There are times where I have sat in Mass and cried because of the emotion that she sings with,” said Curé parishioner Laura Wank of Tuttle.
“It’s not always what you say — it’s how you say it,” Wank continued. “It’s not always what you sing — it’s how you sing it.
“I think her passion and her commitment and unending faith is so present in not only the song choices but the emotions that she sings with.”
Curé parishioner Mary Imming is inspired by how Tuttle has walked the walk and was excited to celebrate her.
“She is a true example of someone who lives her faith,” she said. “It’s a privilege to honor someone as talented as she is.”
Fortino believes Tuttle’s success is a lesson for other parishes.
“Don’t think that you need to hire a PHD in organ performance to build a great music program,” he said. “Start with what personality is going to attract people to come be a part of this music ministry.”
Tuttle is humbled by the support she’s received and is grateful to her husband Mike, her three daughters and everyone who’s supported her career these past four decades.
“This was such a God-led vocation,” she said.
