Cornelia Sommer

Cornelia Sommer is an Affiliate Faculty in Applied Bassoon at Oakland University's School of Music, Theatre and Dance and serves as Second Bassoon of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (joined Fall 2023). A dedicated bassoonist, arranger, and educator, she specializes in expanding the bassoon repertoire through fairy tale-inspired music and cross-disciplinary collaborations.

Her academic credentials include a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) from The Juilliard School, a Master of Music (M.M.) from Yale University, and a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) from Indiana University. Mentored by Frank Morelli, Kathleen McLean, William Ludwig, and Francine Peterson for modern bassoon, and Dominic Teresi for baroque bassoon.

Dr. Sommer's research centers on fairy tale music analysis and bassoon repertoire development. Her award-winning dissertation examined archetypal patterns in works by Ravel, Janáček, and Schumann. She released the album New Enchantments: Fairy Tale Music for Bassoon (2023), featuring original arrangements and commissions, and published Stravinsky's Pulcinella arrangement (2021). Active on Instagram (@pulcinellie_), she shares bassoon excerpts from fairy tale music globally.

Her honors include:

• Presser Foundation Graduate Music Award
• International Double Reed Society Grant
• Richard F. French Prize for outstanding dissertation
• Yale School of Music Alumni Prize
• Benzaquen Career Grant
• Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition Semi-Finalist

As an educator, Dr. Sommer has taught at The Juilliard School (Music History/Ethics), Yale's Music-In-Schools Initiative, and Seattle's Vivace Chamber Players. She presents masterclasses nationwide and at the International Double Reed Society Convention, focusing on bassoon technique and music theory. Her performance career spans the Boston Symphony (including Carnegie Hall and European tours), Seattle Symphony, New World Symphony, and chamber ensembles like Breaking Winds Bassoon Quartet.

Current projects include Detroit Symphony Orchestra performances and ongoing exploration of narrative structures in classical music repertoire.