Bio 
Aurora & Antheia is a new ensemble formed to foster the creativity of sound, texture & in the moment improvisations by the diverse and talented musicians; Cori Somers- violin, Laurie Jarski- cello (multi-string instrumentalist) & Carolyn Koebel- percussionist (also, multi instrumental percussionist with extensive training in practices of several cultures). In the
winter, 2023, A&A entered into a very wonderful collaboration with the Wellspring Dance Co. to create musical compositions, and structured improvisations for the production of Tendrils for three sold out shows in May, 2024. A reprisal of this show is planned for fall, 2026. The next Aurora & Antheia show is slated for November, 2024 for the WITA festival in Lansing. We are currently in the studio to record the music from Tendrils. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/ZcVpvMKAVewroeib/
Cori Somers
received her MM in violin performance from Western Michigan University in 2002 and began exploring non-classical musical training in jazz and traditional Irish in 1998. From there she has gone on to become a seasoned electric violin player, focusing her improvisation energy in folk, rock, blues, and Americana genres. Cori is currently a violinist for Grace Theisen, a member of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (since 1999), and the Red Sea Pedestrians (since 2013). Cori performed with international singer-songwriter and professional dancer, Dacia Bridges, in The Dacia Bridges Project from 2017-2019. Cori can be often found collaborating with other Michigan artists in both live performances and in the recording studio. In addition to her performance career, Cori runs her own teaching studio, is the Executive Director of Kalamazoo Choral Arts, and the BRAVO! competition manager for Fontana Chamber Arts. She is the co-owner of Isobel and Ernest – a retail artist business specializing in hand-dyed clothing, apothecary, and accessories. She is also the co-founder of the new concert venue, The Clover Room, in Kalamazoo MI. Cori is passionate about giving back to the community, collaborating with artists, and lifting her community up through the arts.
Laurie Jarski
is a composer and multi-instrumentalist. She is owner/director of Broughton Music Center, Northville Center for Music & Art, and WPI Festival On the Land Music Camp for Women & Girls. She is a cellist for C•O•R•E tet String Quartet, Octocelli Cello Ensemble, Presence of Three Trio, Red Willow Dream, and the Battle Creek Symphony. She currently coaches a ‘String Quartet Plus’ program for youth and adult string Music Retreat. Laurie is co-producing an original album for release in 2024. Her commissions include Egyptian Blue Jazz Bowl for Solo Guitar, and Untitled Brazilian Mirage was commissioned for the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, 2020. Larger ensemble and orchestral compositions include God Rest Ye! Orchestral Renderings, 2015, Funky Blues for Cello Quartet, 2012, The Star to Every Wandering Bark, 2010, Travel Modalities for 16 Celli, 2012, The Star to Every Wandering Bark, 2010, and An Amethyst Remembrance, 1995. Laurie’s interplay of antiphonal, rhythmic, and colorful fabric is woven around lyrical melodies, a natural extension of Laurie’s folk music origin as singer/songwriter from age 9. A tendency to have percussive attributes cross over to instruments not usually slated as percussion is of particular interest and provide interesting sound textures.
Carolyn Koebel
holds degrees of distinction in percussion and music therapy from Western Michigan University & Michigan State. She has been creating music for silent film soundtracks and modern dance since 1999, most notably with the regional project Blue Dahlia. Since 2012, She has toured main-land China & Hong Kong in teaching and concert tours with Grammy award-winning flutist Rhonda Larson & Ventus. She is noted for her work with Celtic-world music ensembles Fonn Mor & An Dro, and the Dacia Bridges Project, as well as her spirited accompaniment in improvisational world music styles with guitarist/vocalist Elden Kelly, Tia Imani Hanna, Samuel Nalangira, & a host of other collaborators. For the past 22 years she has been traversing the globe in search of indigenous percussion traditions and synthesizing these learnings into her own teaching and performance.
She has released over 30 recordings of diverse musical styles and continues her work as an adjunct professor of music therapy at Western Michigan University and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College; She is a contractual music therapist working in both hospice and special needs settings. She is director of international percussion at Kalamazoo College & director of Michigan Hiryu Daiko Japanese taiko ensemble. www.carolynkoebel.com