Laurie Sommers

Violin

Laurie Sommers is an instructor of violin at the Michigan State University Community Music School.

Ms. Sommers received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Michigan in 1977. She received a Master of Arts and Doctorate in Folklore of Ethnomusicology from Indiana University. She is also certified in Suzuki Book 1 teacher training.

Ms. Sommers has applied ethnomusicology and folklore in publications, documentary radio, exhibitions, in Michigan Indiana, Florida and Georgia and has been the recipient of numerous arts and humanities grants. She has 12 years of ethnomusicology teaching experience and has taught at Valdosta State University in Georgia, as well as Michigan State University. She has also played with the Lansing and Valdosta Symphony Orchestras and worked with the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in 2009.

In 2003, Ms. Sommers was awarded the Dorothy Howard prize from the American Folklore Society for the Florida Music Train, education tool used to teach students about the multi-cultural musical heritage of Florida.