Douglas Cornelsen

Local 5 board member Doug Cornelsen began the clarinet in fifth grade in the small town of Powell, Wyoming.   Following graduation from high school in Phoenix, Arizona, Doug attended the Cleveland Institute and the Cincinnati Conservatory where he earned bachelor and master degrees in music.   As a clarinetist he was a member of the U.S. Marine Band, played extra with the Cincinnati Symphony, and was second clarinetist of the Detroit Symphony for over forty years.  He was a founding member of the Detroit Chamber Winds and principal clarinetist of the Pine Mountain Festival and Opera Saratoga. 

Doug’s affiliation with Local 5 began while serving on DSO committees and authoring a regular Keynote column titled Symphony Corner.  Subsequently he became a board member and in 2003 was elected Local 5 Vice President in which office he served for 15 years during which time he became founding chairperson of Local 5’s charitable Detroit Musicians’ Fund.