KT Somero, Music Librarian
KT Somero, a California native, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Clarinet Performance and received the Gluck Fellowship from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2003. She then moved to Chicago to begin graduate studies at DePaul University, and in 2005 completed a Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance.
Her principal mentors include clarinet legends Gary Gray and John Bruce Yeh. KT joined Access Contemporary Music during the 2006-2007 season and continues to perform and record locally as a freelance musician. In November 2008, she traveled to Paris, France with ACM’s Palomar ensemble to perform a program of American compositions, including two world premieres. Other notable collaborations include May 2009 and May 2010 live studio broadcasts with the Chicago Clarinet Ensemble for WFMT, a June 2009 Chicago Opera Vanguard production of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Greek with the composer in attendance, a July 2009 New Millennium Orchestra performance as part of the Ravinia Festival, and December 2009 and 2010 collaborations with the NMO and the Columbia College film composition program. KT was pleased to perform with members of Palomar for a January 2010 PianoForte recital, also broadcast live on WFMT, and an April 2010 recital at the Chicago Cultural Center. Recent appearances include a February 2011 rendition of John Elmquist's Hard Art Groop, an Elgin Opera gala with the New Millennium Orchestra, and ACM's April 2011 Sound of Silent Film Festival. Upcoming projects include Composer Alive! Canada during the summer and fall of 2011.
In addition, KT is a founding member of the Chicago-based, all-female ensemble claraconbrio, a member of the Chicago Clarinet Ensemble, personnel manager of the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Orchestra Administrative Assistant/Performance Librarian for the Northwestern University Bienen School of Music. Beginning in April 2011, she was proud to join the Peninsula Music Festival as Music Librarian. Over the years, KT has also worked as a professional instrument tester for the Leblanc/Conn-Selmer Corporation, played in a rock band, and maintained an active teaching studio.