Lauren Dykstra is a freelance performing violinist and teaching artist. She was born and grew up in Amiskwaciwâskahikan/ 

ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ, also known as Edmonton, Alberta, on Treaty 6 Territory in Canada/Turtle Island. 

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 Lauren received a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from King’s University, and a Master of Music in Violin Performance and Literature from Brandon University. She attended intensive summer programs at the Orford Centre de Arts and The Banff Centre and participated in masterclasses with the Penderecki String Quartet, Tafelmusik, and the nationally acclaimed Canadian violinist James Ehnes. 

 

Lauren is passionate about providing equitable music education, investing in community, working towards reconciliation and decolonization, and sharing her love of music through performing and teaching. She taught with Community Music Initiatives, a non-profit organization that provides quality music education to rural communities. She provided artistic leadership and coached students for over a decade with the Youth Orchestra of Northern Alberta (YONA) Sistema, an El Sistema inspired program run by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. As part of her role with YONA, Lauren developed a site at Alexander First Nation, one of only three Sistema sites in partnerships with First Nations in Canada. Lauren serves as a Network Steward for the Sistema Canada Network, and is part of Sistema Canada’s Reconciliation Working Group. 

 

Lauren maintains a significant studio of violin and and piano students.  She is proud to teach many students within her community, and encourages collaborative music-making. 

 

As an active musician, Lauren frequently performs throughout the prairie provinces. She has played with the Brandon Chamber Players, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Grande Prairie Boys Choir, the Prince George Symphony Orchestra, and the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. Lauren has performed with Rod Stewart, the Eagles, and at the 2023 Juno Awards, in addition to other freelance work. 

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