The Grace Theisen Trio invites listeners into a space of reflection, resilience, and joy. With songs that blend poetic storytelling, rich melodies, and heartfelt vocals, they explore identity, empowerment, and the intimate threads that connect us all.
Through her songwriting, Grace transforms personal experience into music that resonates universally—balancing vulnerability with strength, introspection with celebration. The trio’s work honors queer identity, amplifies women’s voices, and embraces creative authenticity, offering audiences both inspiration and connection.
As part of the Grace Theisen Trio, alongside Carolyn Koebel and Cori Beth Somers, she brings collaborative energy, lyrical nuance, and instrumental virtuosity to the stage. Together, the trio celebrates women’s empowerment and queer artistry, creating performances that are intimate, moving, and deeply resonant—moments where community, storytelling, and music come together in harmony.
About the Artists:
Grace Theisen is a queer musician from Kalamazoo, Michigan, who coined her genre as “Androgynous Americana” to celebrate queer love and music in all of its forms. Since moving back to Michigan in 2021 from Nashville, she has created quite the buzz. She won Cari Cole’s “Best New Artist” of 2021 and was named “Artist To Watch” by Michigan’s Local Spins media in January 2022. In March 2022, Grace released her 3rd EP, Dance With The Shadows. From that, Down To The River’s Official Music Video won Best Americana Video & The Audience Choice Award at the 2022 Michigan Music Video Awards. Behind the Rain was picked up by Spotify’s official playlist, Home At Last. In July 2022, Grace was named by Revue Magazine as one of the “Top 10 Artists Heating Up The Summer.”
Her 2023 Master of Fire music video was nominated as a finalist in the Toronto Women’s Film Fest and the Michigan Music Video Awards. It was selected to be shown at the Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival. They played several huge Michigan venues and festivals: Kalamazoo Pride, Frederik Meijer Gardens, Fort Wayne Botanical Roots Music Festival, Blissfest, Buttermilk, Dunesville, and Earthwork Harvest Gathering. Her newest single and music video, Ghost Town, is out on all platforms. She is also ⅓ of the super group, The Rebel Eves. Grace will be releasing her debut full length album in June of 2026 called Androgynous Americana.
Cori Beth Somers earned her Master of Music in Violin Performance from Western Michigan University in 2002 and began exploring non-classical traditions—including jazz and traditional Irish music—in 1998. Since then, she has developed into a seasoned electric violinist, channeling her improvisational energy across folk, rock, blues, and Americana genres.
Cori is currently the violinist for Grace Theisen, a longtime member of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (since 1999), a former member of The Red Sea Pedestrians (2013–2025), and a member of the folk-improv trio Aurora & Antheia. From 2017–2019, she performed with the late international singer-songwriter and professional dancer Dacia Bridges as part of The Dacia Bridges Project. Cori frequently collaborates with fellow Michigan artists in both live performance and recording settings.
Beyond performing, Cori teaches with Kalamazoo Kids in Tune and maintains a private teaching studio. She is also the owner of Rainbow Forest Creations, a retail artist business specializing in small-batch, handmade apothecary goods and accessories, and co-founder of The Clover Room, a concert venue in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Deeply committed to community, Cori is passionate about collaboration, creative connection, and uplifting others through the arts.
Carolyn Koebel holds degrees of distinction in percussion and music therapy from Western Michigan University and Michigan State University. Since 2001, Carolyn has worked to establish long-term music therapy programs at the Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home and Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan, while serving as a music therapist in the Kalamazoo community for 20+ years. She has worked extensively in silent film and dance accompaniment with the art ensemble, Blue Dahlia; brought community drum and dance to life with her collaborators in Dunuya; is noted for her work with Celtic-world music ensembles Fonn Mor & An Dro; the Dacia Bridges Project; the MRC Drummers; and currently directs the international percussion program at Kalamazoo College where she teaches Japanese taiko drumming and performs with Michigan Hiryu Daiko. She serves as adjunct music therapy professor of global percussion and clinical guitar at Western Michigan University and St. Mary-of-the-Woods College. She has become an in-demand accompanist, educator, performer and community rhythm circle facilitator across broad genres and settings. She has toured and taught internationally with Grammy-award winner Rhonda Larson and Ventus, including multiple tours in China and Hong Kong since 2012. She currently works with Aurora & Antheia, Ugandan multi-instrumentalist Samuel Nalangira, the Arabic music-based Bahar Ensemble, Great Lakes Brass, the Nathan Moore Affair, Malcolm Dalglish, organist Rhonda Sider-Edgington, Grace Theisen, and numerous other collaborators. She has released more than 30 recordings to-date and is always up for new collaborations!! Koebel was named as a recipient of the Community Medal of Arts in December 2023 by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.