Member Bios

Amanda Walvoord Dykouse, violin

Amanda Walvoord Dykhouse began to study the violin at age 5 with Ellen Rizner.  She went on to graduate from Interlochen Arts Academy and attend Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio.  In 1995 she graduated with highest honors from Rice University in Houston, Texas, with degrees in music and religious studies.  She pursued further training at the Meadowmount School of Music and Music Academy of the West.  Her primary teacher was Kathleen Winkler.  She subsequently pursued a Master of Divinity at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, after which she served as a full-time pastor in Holland for four years. 

Amanda is currently the concertmaster of the Holland Symphony Orchestra and the principal second violin of the West Michigan Symphony in Muskegon.  She performs frequently throughout the area, including several appearances as a soloist with the Holland Symphony Orchestra.  She also plays regularly on the Free@3 recital series and the Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck.  She maintains a violin studio in Holland.  Her students have won numerous local awards, including the Holland Symphony Orchestra’s concerto competition, have appeared on the NPR program, “From the Top,” and have been admitted into highly competitive undergraduate music programs.  In addition to her musical activities, Amanda serves as a calling pastor at Third Reformed Church in Holland, MI, and spends a lot of time raising her three children with her husband Greg.

Katie Bast, violin

Beginning Suzuki violin in her elementary school program, Katie cannot remember a time she did not play the violin.  After receiving her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance at Southern Methodist University, she taught privately and performed with Milwaukee's Skylight Opera Theater and the Waukesha Symphony.  In 2001, Katie finished her Master of Music degree in Violin Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy at the University of Minnesota.  That fall, she became faculty at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis where she coordinated the Suzuki string groups and orchestras.  She was a founding member of Arco Strings, a group similar to Shoreline Strings in the twin cities, performing at over 100 weddings and special events.  During the Spring of 2013, Katie and her family relocated to Holland, where she started a private Suzuki studio and is assistant principal violin in the Holland Symphony.  Other free lance performances include the Free @ 3 series at First Reformed Church, Holland Chorale and the West Michigan Symphony.  Additionally, Katie loves spending time raising her two children along side her husband, Andy.

Lauren Garza, viola

Lauren Garza received her Doctorate of Musical Arts in performance from Michigan State University in 2007, where she studied with Robert Dan.  She also received her Masters Degree in performance from Michigan State and her Bachelors Degree from Hope College where she studied with Mihai Craioveanu.  She is an active orchestral performer, currently as the principal violist of the Holland Symphony Orchestra and a former member of the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra.  She freelances in the West Michigan area, plays regularly on the Free @ 3 Chamber Music Series and has also performed with Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck.  Lauren has a private studio of violin and viola students, and has conducted viola sectionals for schools in the Holland Area.  She has been the General Manager of Holland Symphony Youth Orchestras since May 2007.  Lauren and her husband Benji have three children, Simon, Manuel and Ramona.