Kristin Sommer
2nd/Associate Principal
Kristin Sommer has been a member of the Fort Collins Symphony since 2005, performing on both piccolo and flute. She first became intrigued by the sound of the flute at the age of eight while listening to her parents’ collection of opera records. This led her to eventually pursue a Music Performance degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder followed by graduate studies at Yale University in New Haven, CT. She maintains an active schedule as an educator and mentor for flute students throughout northern Colorado. Information about taking lessons in her flute studio can be found at https://kristinsommerflute.com.
Get to know Kristin
Where are you from?
I grew up in Boulder, CO. I attended K-12 in the Boulder Valley School District and also did my undergraduate degree at CU Boulder.
How did you first get started playing?
I began taking flute lessons when I was 8 because my older brother had started band and I wanted to learn an instrument too. At that time, band started in elementary school. By the time I was old enough to join the beginning band, I had been playing for a while and had really taken a shine to the flute. The elementary band teacher suggested that I start attending band classes at the junior high school. It’s hard to imagine this happening today, but in the 1980’s it was evidently ok for me to walk over to the junior high by myself (about a 10 minute walk) towards the end of the elementary school day and spend the last part of the school day in junior high band. Eventually I joined our local youth symphony and later started taking the bus down to Denver to play with the Denver Young Artist Orchestra.
What’s your favorite thing about playing your instrument?
I just love the sound and color it adds to an ensemble. Also, I enjoy the camaraderie and trust that is created between musicians when we work together on a piece of music.
What do you like to do outside of music?
I enjoy the fiber arts (mostly knitting) and playing Celtic harp for fun. I also like taking long walks with my dog, supporting the arts scene around the area, spending time with my husband and family (two kids in college, both at CSU) and traveling.
Why is music important to you?
Music is a great connector. Whether teaching, performing, or listening, I can’t imagine life without it.