Cori Beth Somers, M.M. from Western Michigan University, violinist, has recently returned to Kalamazoo after a six year adventure in the Upper Peninsula, Vancouver, BC and Kingston, Ontario.  Cori is a member of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, free-lance performer and the newly appointed K-8 music instructor for Kazoo school.

Past performances as Concert Master and Assistant Concertmaster include, Le Cenerentolla, Don Pasquale and La Boheme for the Pine Mountain Music Festival in Michigan. Most recently, she played with the Kingston Symphony Orchestra and toured with the Thousand Island's Playhouse theatre company in Ontario in 2008. Prior to living in Kingston, she taught Suzuki violin privately and group classes at the Vancouver Academy of Music for three years. Before moving to Canada Cori was Artistic Director of the Copper Country Suzuki Association, Musical Director of the Copper Country Youth String Orchestra, and Concert Master of the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra in Houghton, Michigan for two years. She has played with many Symphony Orchestras in this region including the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Lansing Symphony Orchestra, West Shore Symphony Orchestra and South Bend Symphony Orchestra. Cori has also studied jazz and Irish technique and has performed with numerous folk, rock, Irish, and jazz ensembles throughout her career both as a violinist and singer.

Cori has been a dedicated performer, violin instructor, chamber music coach and string ensemble conductor for over ten years.  She strives to bring out the creative and musical abilities in each child in a nurturing and fun environment.