Elizabeth Knoll-Bowman directs her Zeeland High orchestra students during a class in preparation for their upcoming holiday concert. Knoll-Bowman is in her first year directing the orchestra, after previous teaching experiences in Muskegon and Kentwood.
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Elizabeth Knoll-Bowman believes in the power of music programs in public education.
The new director of the Zeeland High School orchestra got her start in music in the fourth grade at North Holland Elementary School, part of the West Ottawa district, learning the violin.
“I wasn’t particularly good, but I enjoyed it,” Knoll-Bowman said. “As I got into late middle school and high school, I started taking some lessons, and just decided I wanted to teach music – I could do this for a career, I could do something I enjoy, making music with young people.”
Knoll-Bowman, who grew up not far from the Zeeland High campus, came to ZPS from Kentwood Public Schools, where she directed the orchestra at Valleywood Middle School and assisted the high school orchestra during her seven years there. She replaced Marie Ten Elshof, who retired at the end of the 2024-25 school year after 23 years as high school orchestra director in Zeeland.
“Kentwood is a wonderful district. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time there. My coworkers were amazing,” Knoll-Bowman said. “But I wanted to do more. We had a high school director there already and he wasn’t going anywhere. I wanted to push myself. So, I went ahead and tossed my hat into the ring.”
Last spring, Knoll-Bowman was hired to take over the orchestra program. Before she moved into her new role, she got a chance to job-shadow Ten Elshof.
“She asked if I could come in and conduct a song at their last concert,” Knoll-Bowman said. “So, I was able to meet the kids before the fall started.
“It was huge. I could not thank Marie enough for that. I think it was good for the kids, too, because they knew a little bit more what to expect in the fall,” she added.
Knoll-Bowman directs the combined high school orchestra, which has about 60 students, as well the advanced string chamber ensemble, a smaller group of 18 students seeking to play more challenging pieces and looking to continue performing at the collegiate level. She team-teaches the orchestra classes with Zeeland West graduate Margaret Hawley-Lowry.
“She has been a godsend, because she is a graduate of this program,” Knoll-Bowman said of Hawley-Lowry. “She has insight on the history (of the program). When Marie had her car accident last year, she got pulled up from elementary music and she jumped right into here and helped prepare them for their Carnegie Hall trip … I cannot say enough about Margaret.
It’s been a joy to work with her.”
Hawley-Lowry said it has been “fun” teaching alongside Knoll-Bowman in the orchestra class.
“I co-taught the last few years, so it’s nice to have a new perspective and see different ways of explaining things to students, different ways to offer encouragement,” Hawley-Lowry said.
“I love the fact that she really focuses on the positive of students who are doing what she asks … It’s nice to have someone to bounce ideas around with, to make sure students are engaged, to make sure students are practicing at home.”
Even before she got into music, Knoll-Bowman knew she wanted to teach. She was inspired by her first-grade teacher at North Holland, Eileen Boss.
“She once told my mom that ‘Elizabeth would make a great teacher someday,’ and that just stuck with me,” Knoll-Bowman said. “I always wanted to be a teacher, first and foremost.”
Knoll-Bowman believes strongly in the value of being part of an orchestra or any other collaborative undertaking in a school setting.
“Any collaborative activity – sports, music, theater, dance – any activity like that is amazing, because it gives you the opportunity to work with other people,” she said. “The neat thing about the performing arts – we don’t have a bench. If I have a cello student (for whom) it’s just not working today, I can’t be like ‘hey, appreciate your effort, we’re going to put in Bob as a substitute.’
“We all have to work together. We all have our individual parts, and yet we all have to make sure it’s perfectly in time with each other. It’s something that you don’t necessarily get in other collaborative activities.”
Knoll-Bowman has set a long-term goal of having the orchestra perform at the Michigan Music Conference, an honor that the high school band program got an opportunity to be part of last school year.
“That’s the highest invite for schools in the state of Michigan,” she said.
Knoll-Bowman graduated from West Ottawa High School in 1996, and attended Grand Valley State University before finishing her degree in music education at Wayne State University in Detroit. She was orchestra director for Muskegon Public Schools for seven years before moving over to Kentwood.
Earlier this year, Knoll-Bowman was named the Michigan School Band & Orchestra (MSBOA) District 10 Orchestra Teacher of the Year.
In addition to teaching at ZPS, Knoll-Bowman is the conductor for the Grand Rapids Symphonette, an orchestra consisting of volunteer musicians from around the Grand Rapids area.
She has also performed professionally with the educational branch of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, St. Clair Shores Symphony, Dearborn Symphony, Plymouth-Canton Symphony, and Holland Symphony Orchestra.
The Zeeland High School Orchestra and Choir will present their holiday concert Monday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. at the DeWitt Auditorium at Zeeland East. Tickets can be purchased online at zpsarts.ludus.com.
Zeeland Record
Elizabeth Knoll-Bowman believes in the power of music programs in public education.
The new director of the Zeeland High School orchestra got her start in music in the fourth grade at North Holland Elementary School, part of the West Ottawa district, learning the violin.
“I wasn’t particularly good, but I enjoyed it,” Knoll-Bowman said. “As I got into late middle school and high school, I started taking some lessons, and just decided I wanted to teach music – I could do this for a career, I could do something I enjoy, making music with young people.”
Knoll-Bowman, who grew up not far from the Zeeland High campus, came to ZPS from Kentwood Public Schools, where she directed the orchestra at Valleywood Middle School and assisted the high school orchestra during her seven years there. She replaced Marie Ten Elshof, who retired at the end of the 2024-25 school year after 23 years as high school orchestra director in Zeeland.
“Kentwood is a wonderful district. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time there. My coworkers were amazing,” Knoll-Bowman said. “But I wanted to do more. We had a high school director there already and he wasn’t going anywhere. I wanted to push myself. So, I went ahead and tossed my hat into the ring.”
Last spring, Knoll-Bowman was hired to take over the orchestra program. Before she moved into her new role, she got a chance to job-shadow Ten Elshof.
“She asked if I could come in and conduct a song at their last concert,” Knoll-Bowman said. “So, I was able to meet the kids before the fall started.
“It was huge. I could not thank Marie enough for that. I think it was good for the kids, too, because they knew a little bit more what to expect in the fall,” she added.
Knoll-Bowman directs the combined high school orchestra, which has about 60 students, as well the advanced string chamber ensemble, a smaller group of 18 students seeking to play more challenging pieces and looking to continue performing at the collegiate level. She team-teaches the orchestra classes with Zeeland West graduate Margaret Hawley-Lowry.
“She has been a godsend, because she is a graduate of this program,” Knoll-Bowman said of Hawley-Lowry. “She has insight on the history (of the program). When Marie had her car accident last year, she got pulled up from elementary music and she jumped right into here and helped prepare them for their Carnegie Hall trip … I cannot say enough about Margaret.
It’s been a joy to work with her.”
Hawley-Lowry said it has been “fun” teaching alongside Knoll-Bowman in the orchestra class.
“I co-taught the last few years, so it’s nice to have a new perspective and see different ways of explaining things to students, different ways to offer encouragement,” Hawley-Lowry said.
“I love the fact that she really focuses on the positive of students who are doing what she asks … It’s nice to have someone to bounce ideas around with, to make sure students are engaged, to make sure students are practicing at home.”
Even before she got into music, Knoll-Bowman knew she wanted to teach. She was inspired by her first-grade teacher at North Holland, Eileen Boss.
“She once told my mom that ‘Elizabeth would make a great teacher someday,’ and that just stuck with me,” Knoll-Bowman said. “I always wanted to be a teacher, first and foremost.”
Knoll-Bowman believes strongly in the value of being part of an orchestra or any other collaborative undertaking in a school setting.
“Any collaborative activity – sports, music, theater, dance – any activity like that is amazing, because it gives you the opportunity to work with other people,” she said. “The neat thing about the performing arts – we don’t have a bench. If I have a cello student (for whom) it’s just not working today, I can’t be like ‘hey, appreciate your effort, we’re going to put in Bob as a substitute.’
“We all have to work together. We all have our individual parts, and yet we all have to make sure it’s perfectly in time with each other. It’s something that you don’t necessarily get in other collaborative activities.”
Knoll-Bowman has set a long-term goal of having the orchestra perform at the Michigan Music Conference, an honor that the high school band program got an opportunity to be part of last school year.
“That’s the highest invite for schools in the state of Michigan,” she said.
Knoll-Bowman graduated from West Ottawa High School in 1996, and attended Grand Valley State University before finishing her degree in music education at Wayne State University in Detroit. She was orchestra director for Muskegon Public Schools for seven years before moving over to Kentwood.
Earlier this year, Knoll-Bowman was named the Michigan School Band & Orchestra (MSBOA) District 10 Orchestra Teacher of the Year.
In addition to teaching at ZPS, Knoll-Bowman is the conductor for the Grand Rapids Symphonette, an orchestra consisting of volunteer musicians from around the Grand Rapids area.
She has also performed professionally with the educational branch of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, St. Clair Shores Symphony, Dearborn Symphony, Plymouth-Canton Symphony, and Holland Symphony Orchestra.
The Zeeland High School Orchestra and Choir will present their holiday concert Monday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. at the DeWitt Auditorium at Zeeland East. Tickets can be purchased online at zpsarts.ludus.com.
West Junior Wins Walk for Warmth Poster Contest
Vreeland West High School junior Jiho Lee, right, with her art teacher, Deb Kemppainen, shortly after Lee was announced as the winner of the 2025 Walk for Warmth poster contest, hosted by the Ottawa County Community Action Agency.
Photo courtesy Zeeland Public Schools
Photo courtesy Zeeland Public Schools
By Brandy Navetta
Zeeland Public Schools
Jiho Lee, a junior at Zeeland West High School, has been named the winner of the 2025 Walk for Warmth poster contest, hosted by the Ottawa County Community Action Agency.
Jiho’s artwork was selected for its style, bold color, and thoughtful message about caring for neighbors in need. Her poster will promote the annual Walk for Warmth, which raises funds to help local families facing heating emergencies during the winter months.
Originally from Korea, Jiho shared that moving to the United States as a teenager was a “very special experience” and that the welcoming environment in West Michigan helped her feel confident.
“People here are welcoming and kind, and that helped me feel more confident,” she said.
Her growth as an artist began soon after arriving at Zeeland West. She had never taken a painting class until tenth grade, when she enrolled in a basic drawing course.
“I remember enjoying the class so much,” she said. “It was also the first time I had ever used Photoshop. Having access to classes like that has really helped me grow as a student and as an artist.”
When designing her winning poster, Jiho drew inspiration from classic Olympic artwork, especially the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics poster. She wanted her design to carry the same sense of unity.
“I hope this poster sends a message of communion and community spirit,” she said. “Both the Winter Olympics and Walk for Warmth remind us of the power of community. I hope it goes beyond just a charity event and shows how we share warmth with one another.”
Her art teacher, Deb Kemppainen described her as kind, hardworking, and thoughtful in everything she creates.
Ottawa County Community Action will recognize Jiho at the 2026 Walk for Warmth event, to be held Friday, Feb. 20 at 5:30 p.m., starting from EV Construction, 86 E. 6th St., Holland.
Her artwork will be featured in promotions across the county leading up to the walk.
For more information about Walk for Warmth, visit miottawa.org/caa/walk-for-warmth.
Zeeland Public Schools
Jiho Lee, a junior at Zeeland West High School, has been named the winner of the 2025 Walk for Warmth poster contest, hosted by the Ottawa County Community Action Agency.
Jiho’s artwork was selected for its style, bold color, and thoughtful message about caring for neighbors in need. Her poster will promote the annual Walk for Warmth, which raises funds to help local families facing heating emergencies during the winter months.
Originally from Korea, Jiho shared that moving to the United States as a teenager was a “very special experience” and that the welcoming environment in West Michigan helped her feel confident.
“People here are welcoming and kind, and that helped me feel more confident,” she said.
Her growth as an artist began soon after arriving at Zeeland West. She had never taken a painting class until tenth grade, when she enrolled in a basic drawing course.
“I remember enjoying the class so much,” she said. “It was also the first time I had ever used Photoshop. Having access to classes like that has really helped me grow as a student and as an artist.”
When designing her winning poster, Jiho drew inspiration from classic Olympic artwork, especially the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics poster. She wanted her design to carry the same sense of unity.
“I hope this poster sends a message of communion and community spirit,” she said. “Both the Winter Olympics and Walk for Warmth remind us of the power of community. I hope it goes beyond just a charity event and shows how we share warmth with one another.”
Her art teacher, Deb Kemppainen described her as kind, hardworking, and thoughtful in everything she creates.
Ottawa County Community Action will recognize Jiho at the 2026 Walk for Warmth event, to be held Friday, Feb. 20 at 5:30 p.m., starting from EV Construction, 86 E. 6th St., Holland.
Her artwork will be featured in promotions across the county leading up to the walk.
For more information about Walk for Warmth, visit miottawa.org/caa/walk-for-warmth.
Hope Rep Theatre Presents ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ Play
A beloved American holiday story will come to life onstage in downtown Holland for a fourth Christmas season when Hope Repertory Theatre presents “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” on Wednesday through Saturday, Dec. 17-20 at the Knickerbocker Theatre.
All evening performances during that timeframe start at 7:30 p.m., and an afternoon matinee is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 20, at 2 p.m.
With the help of an ensemble that brings multiple characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers what life would be without him one fateful Christmas Eve. A highlight of the production is seeing the actors perform the live sound effects as they would have been created for a radio show in 1940.
Written by Joe Landry and first produced in 1996, the play is based on the 1946 film produced and directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart as George Bailey.
This year’s production is directed by Curt L. Tofteland, who is founder of Shakespeare Behind Bars and former artistic director of the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival.
The cast will include multiple Hope alumni and a current Hope student. The title role of George Bailey will be performed by Jon Sprik, who is a Los Angeles-based actor and 2008 Hope graduate. Other members of the cast will include Renae Geerlings, a 1996 Hope graduate from Fayetteville, Ga.; John Phillips from Los Angeles; Adam Chamness, a 2023 Hope graduate from Holland; and Hope senior Sofia Wake of Washington, Ill.
Hope Repertory Theatre — or “Hope Rep” — produces plays and educational programs throughout the summer and during the academic year, and involves theatre professionals and student interns onstage and in technical and production areas.
Tickets for “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” are $35-$40 for regular admission; $25-$30 for senior citizens and members of the Hope faculty and staff; $15-$20 for high school students and college students; and free for children of middle-school age and younger.
Tickets are available at the ticket office in the Events and Conferences Office located in downtown Holland in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center, 100 E. Eighth St. Tickets are also available online at hope.edu/tickets.
All evening performances during that timeframe start at 7:30 p.m., and an afternoon matinee is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 20, at 2 p.m.
With the help of an ensemble that brings multiple characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers what life would be without him one fateful Christmas Eve. A highlight of the production is seeing the actors perform the live sound effects as they would have been created for a radio show in 1940.
Written by Joe Landry and first produced in 1996, the play is based on the 1946 film produced and directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart as George Bailey.
This year’s production is directed by Curt L. Tofteland, who is founder of Shakespeare Behind Bars and former artistic director of the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival.
The cast will include multiple Hope alumni and a current Hope student. The title role of George Bailey will be performed by Jon Sprik, who is a Los Angeles-based actor and 2008 Hope graduate. Other members of the cast will include Renae Geerlings, a 1996 Hope graduate from Fayetteville, Ga.; John Phillips from Los Angeles; Adam Chamness, a 2023 Hope graduate from Holland; and Hope senior Sofia Wake of Washington, Ill.
Hope Repertory Theatre — or “Hope Rep” — produces plays and educational programs throughout the summer and during the academic year, and involves theatre professionals and student interns onstage and in technical and production areas.
Tickets for “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” are $35-$40 for regular admission; $25-$30 for senior citizens and members of the Hope faculty and staff; $15-$20 for high school students and college students; and free for children of middle-school age and younger.
Tickets are available at the ticket office in the Events and Conferences Office located in downtown Holland in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center, 100 E. Eighth St. Tickets are also available online at hope.edu/tickets.
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