

Cori Somers
WPI Folk Band & Improv
Cori Somers received her MM in violin performance at Western Michigan University in 2002, is currently the violinist for the Grace Theisen Band, The Red Sea Pedestrians, The Bad Ass Woman Band, the Aurora and Antheia Ensemble, a member of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra since 2000, and is often collaborating with other artists throughout Michigan. Cori is the BRAVO! Young artists music competition manager for Fontana Chamber Arts, is a middle school chamber ensemble coach at Kalamazoo Public Schools, and teaches private lessons. Cori co-founded and directs the new concert venue, The Clover Room in Kalamazoo MI that is focused on presenting female artists, BIPOC artists, and LGBTQ+ Artists. Cori has also spent many years teaching for Suzuki programs, coaching chamber music, teaching private and group lessons to all ages, and presenting workshops at a variety of music festivals. Cori is passionate about learning new music styles, has refined her own skills as an improviser over the past 20 years, and loves to perform with new artists. Her work is about giving back to the community, collaborating with artists, and lifting Women up through the arts.