Lauren Kowal is a first-year graduate teaching associate pursuing a Master of Music in oboe performance and a Master of Arts in arts administration and policy. Originally from Troy (Detroit), Michigan, she received her bachelor’s degrees from Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, Michigan). Currently, Lauren studies with Dr. Abby Yeakle-Held and serves as the instructor for the oboe methods course, and teaches the studio reed class with Dr. Held. Previously, she studied with Dr. Alex Hayashi, Liz Spector-Callahan, and Brad Smith. After graduation, Lauren plans to pursue a DMA in oboe performance, then to form a non-profit chamber ensemble with a mission to make chamber music more accessible and attainable to beginner/intermediate music students while also elevating composers and performers who have had a more difficult journey to having their voices heard and appreciated in society.

While at WMU, Lauren received from the Lee Honors College the Gwen Frostic Medallion Scholarship, one of the most prestigious merit-based scholarships for undergraduates. She was also awarded the Leonard Meretta Endowed Scholarship for outstanding performance and achievement in the university’s top wind ensemble. During her final year at WMU, Lauren performed with the WMU Graduate Woodwind Quintet and Western Winds, an ensemble consisting of wind, brass and percussion applied faculty and graduate assistants, directed by Dr. Scott Boerma. Lauren was also a member of the first Reed Quintet at WMU, Invictus Winds and is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta and Pi Kappa Lambda honors fraternities.

Beyond her passion for music, Lauren loves antiquing, hiking, reading, running and traveling.