







Welcome to Kalamazoo Choral Arts. Previously The Kalamazoo Bach Festival, this new title reflects our new mission statement for the organization, defined by our board of directors: “to create, enrich, and transform community through singing.”
This mission embodies three important values that drive our work:
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a clearer identity,
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openness to an expanded repertoire and diverse audiences, and
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a core belief in the power of singing to bring people together.
Meet our Staff Behind the Scenes

Executive Director
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Cori Somers was appointed Executive Director of the Bach Festival of Kalamazoo in August of 2015. Ms. Somers is dedicated and passionate about managing programming and the implementation of the Kalamazoo Bach Festival's season with over 12 events annually. She is a creative community organizer and engages and enjoys planning and program development for education and outreach initiatives. With more than 15 years of experience in arts administration, she is a seasoned administrator with broad experience in marketing, development, finance, operations, and educational programming.
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Cori Somers received her MM in violin performance at Western Michigan University in 2002, is currently a violinist for the Grace Theisen Project, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, and is often collaborating with other Michigan artists. In addition to her role here, Cori is the BRAVO! competition manager for Fontana, is co-owner of Isobel and Ernest - a retail artist business specializing in hand-dyed clothing, apothecary, and accessories, and she co-founded and co-directs the new concert venue, The Clover Room. Cori is passionate about giving back to the community, collaborating with artists, and lifting our community up through the arts.
Cori Somers
Mechele Peters
Director of Choral Operations
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Photo and Bio coming soon!
Mary Foley-Wilson
Director of Patron Services and Finances
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Photo and Bio coming soon!