About Us
The Atwater String Quartet dates back to Neenah, Wisconsin over 10 years ago. Growing up in this tight-knit community, the four musicians found their love for music early on and first came together as members of a middle school ensemble group.
Their journey continued through high school, performing with Touch of Class, Neenah High School’s modern string group, and developing a strong musical connection along the way. They were also key members of the Rock Infused Orchestra, where they combined their passion for music with teaching and performing for others.
Now, the Atwater String Quartet brings that same shared history and dedication to their performances. Whether playing classical works or modern, upbeat pieces, their music reflects the years they’ve spent growing and playing together for the past decade.
Mindara Krueger-Olson—Violin and Viola
Since picking up the violin at the age of 8, Mindara has been a flexible and exciting performer with experience in a variety of ensembles and settings. On her musical journey, she has performed in various ensembles including a gigging alternative strings group called Touch of Class, a rock orchestra called Vic Ferrari’s Symphony On The Rocks, a mariachi ensemble, the Lawrence University Symphony Orchestra, debut ensembles for original compositions from the Lawrence University Composition Studio, and even picked up several percussion instruments with the Lawrence University Percussion Ensemble. One of her favorite performances has been from her trip to China with Touch of Class in the Shanghai Symphony Hall.
After graduating from Lawrence University with a degree in instrumental and general music education in June of 2022, she began teaching orchestra at the West Bend High Schools and appearing in pit orchestras for local community theater companies such as Hartford Players and Musical Masquers. When school is not in session, you can find Mindara teaching at Rock Infused Orchestra, helping students learn how to bring their best performance to the stage.
Lauren Harvath—Violin and Viola
Lauren is a versatile musician with a wealth of experience in performance and education. She earned her degree in Instrumental/General Music Education from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, where she focused on violin and viola. Alongside her studies, she gained practical expertise working as a string technician for Heid Music.
Lauren has performed with the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, contributing her talents to a wide range of orchestral works. As a member of the string jazz group Touch of Class, she has played internationally, including in prestigious concert halls in Shanghai and Beijing during a tour of China.
Currently, Lauren plays viola for the Atwater String Quartet and teaches orchestra in the Northshore area of Milwaukee. When school is not in session, she is violin coach for Rock Infused Orchestra, inspiring the next generation of musicians.
Braiden Blank—Violin and Viola
Braiden Blank began playing the violin at age seven and picked up the viola at age eleven. Since then, she has played in various esteemed orchestras such as the UW-Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Wisconsin State Honors Orchestra, where she was first chair viola for two consecutive years. She also played in the Honors Performance Series Orchestra, where she performed at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City in 2020. In 2022, she went on tour with the Touch of Class ensemble in Croatia and played multiple shows at the Croatia International Jazz Festival.
Braiden has previously played at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center and Oshkosh Opera House in addition to weddings, church events, assisted living facilities, banquets, and other events. She spends her summers volunteering for Rock Infused Orchestra, where kids learn to play upbeat music and how to collaborate in an orchestral setting. Braiden is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Kalyan Krueger-Olson—Cello
As a classically trained musician on cello since the second grade, Kalyan Krueger-Olson has had the privilege of playing with many prestigious ensembles, including the Wisconsin State Honors Orchestra and the UW-Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. He has made an impact on his local community by coaching and mentoring younger cellists in the Neenah Joint School District Summer Strings Camp.
In the summer of 2022, Kalyan performed for the Croatia International Jazz Festival with the performing string jazz ensemble, Touch of Class. Kalyan has experience playing cello in a wide variety of venues, such as various churches, senior living homes, corporate offices, the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, and the Oshkosh Opera House.