Our Staff

We are proud to work with some great educators.


Benjamin Weir Violin

Benjamin Weir is a Violinist who plays with the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra. Growing up in the local school system, Ben had the chance to join the orchestra program.  He has enjoyed playing and performing ever since. His musical upbringing includes the Suzuki method and performances in the Arkansas Public Theater pit orchestra. Aside from performing locally, he works with the Arkansas Philharmonic Youth Orchestra as an instructor and conductors assistant. Ben strives to share his appreciation of music and support our growing community through teaching technical skill, expression, musicianship, and theory.  







Miranda Burns Violin/Viola

Miranda Burns is a highly skilled violinist and dedicated educator with a diverse background in both performance and pedagogy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in music performance from the University of Arkansas, where she studied under Dr. Er-Gene Kahng. Miranda furthered her studies at Georgetown College, earning a Master's degree in education. With comprehensive Suzuki training in books 1-4, Miranda is well-equipped to teach students of all ages and skill levels. Prior to joining Palmer String Studio she taught with the Suzuki Music School of Arkansas, Northwest Arkansas Suzuki Strings, and grew her own private studio. Miranda maintains high standards of technique and musicianship in her teaching, offering both Suzuki and traditional violin lessons tailored to each student's needs.  
 

In addition to teaching, Miranda is an active performer, regularly performing with the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra. She has performed in masterclasses led by Alexander Markov, Elizabeth Pitcairn, Filip Pogady, and the St. Lawrence String Quartet. Miranda is excited to join Palmer String Studio and share the joy of music making with the Northwest Arkansas community!



Garrett Jones Double Bass

Through the years, bassist and Arkansas native Garrett Jones has performed for national and international touring acts including “The Official Blues Brothers Revue,” where he worked under the musical direction of Paul Shaffer, as well as Broadway touring productions of “West Side Story,” “Spam-a-Lot,” and “Wicked.” His versatility as both an upright and electric bassist has allowed him to perform with a vast array of artists including folk musicians The Vine Brothers, Joe Purdy, Opal Agafia; as well as jazz ensembles including The Yaniv Taubenhouse Trio, The Fayetteville Jazz Collective, The Jake Hertzog Trio, and VGM sensations The OneUps. He is also a regular performer with the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra and works for SONA’s education outreach program as a guest clinician at many of the Northwest Arkansas regional high schools. As a content producer, Garrett has featured musical groups and songwriters of a variety of backgrounds and performance styles through The Vine Brothers online channels. He is currently serving as the orchestra program director for Arkansas Arts Academy as well as teaching electric and upright bass classes there as well.


Hannah Cheney Cello 

Hannah Cheney is a passionate cellist and student at Rogers Heritage High School. Growing up in Rogers, she attended Oakdale Middle School, where she first began to learn the cello. After two years of playing, she was accepted into the ParkNa Conservatory of Violin and Cello. She currently learns cello at the University of Arkansas and participates in the sinfonia orchestra at Heritage High School. She has participated in All Region Orchestra and All State Orchestra throughout her music career. Playing music is Hannah's biggest passion in life. She adores performing and getting to share her music with other people. She hopes to attend college for music performance and music education after she graduates high school in 2025. 



William Bush Violin, Viola
Will Bush began learning to play the violin at age 11 by trying to imitate his grandfather's fiddle playing.  During middle school in Lincoln Arkansas, he joined a local band along with his grandfather.  The group played for community events, including square dances and senior center performances around Lincoln and Prairie Grove.  Also very interested in classical music at that time, Will became concertmaster of the North Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra in ninth grade.  The following year, he joined the Fort Smith Symphony violin section and began participating in a school orchestra program.  Will went on that year to be concertmaster of All-Region, and concertmaster of All-State the following two years.  He was in the National High School Honors Orchestra in Ohio, and was accepted to the Indiana University String Academy.

While attending Baylor University in Texas, Will performed in country bands and taught violin at a local store.  He was also a member of the Waco Symphony for four years.  Will served as concertmaster of the Baylor Symphony, Baylor Collegium Musicum, and Baylor Opera Orchestra.  He also worked at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in a dinner theatre jazz combo.  As a college sophomore Will was a member of the Disney Grammy College Orchestra, performing about 300 shows at Epcot in Orlando.  He also participated in the Music Festival of Arkansas Orchestra, the Killington (VT) Music Festival Orchestra, and various master classes.

After graduating from Baylor with a B.M. in Violin Performance, Will moved back to NWA to be closer to family, and joined the Arkansas Symphony in Little Rock.  He also set up a teaching studio and played in a cowboy/western swing band around that time.  Will has been teaching and performing in this area for over 20 years, and has played in the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA) since 2011.  He is also a SoNA string mentor for the local school orchestra programs.  Will is a former Arkansas State Fiddle Champion at Mountain View, and has been a clinician for the State Fiddlers Association.


Landon Barker Violin

Landon is currently at the University of Arkansas completing his Bachelor's degree in Violin Performance. Landon has been immersed in the arts community around NWA for years. He was a member of the Arkansas Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Ozark Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, All State Winner/All-Region winner, and traveled to compete in competitions in NYC and Chicago with the elite BHS Chamber Orchestra. He graduated from Bentonville High School under the direction of Jesse Collett. Landon currently performs with the University Chamber Orchestra and the University Symphony Orchestra and studies under the direction of Dr. Er-Gene Kahng. Landon enjoys performing contemporary/modern music and recently had the opportunity to perform the score of a movie at the Walmart AMP! He loves to cultivate the love of ALL music in students and looks forward to working with you!




Lisa Fried Violin, Viola, Cello

Lisa Fried was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. She began playing violin at age twelve when she enrolled in school and requested guitar lessons. As the school did not offer guitar instruction, her music teacher suggested violin instead. This proved to be a decision that enriched her life. Lisa then attended Drake University, where she earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree.

Upon graduating from Drake, Lisa began her career as an orchestra director in an urban school district in central Iowa. She took pleasure in helping young students discover the joys of studying music and witnessed the positive impact it had on their lives for 30 years. In addition to her work in the public schools, Lisa maintained a private string studio, teaching individual students and ensembles. She also founded and directed the Christian Youth Orchestra. In 2021, Lisa Fried was selected as the Des Moines Rotary Foundation's educator of the year. This honor is typically bestowed upon a traditional classroom teacher. She received this recognition due to her strong orchestra programs and the exceptional students who she brought into the community through performances.

 Lisa is married with four children. She and her husband recently relocated to Northwest Arkansas to be near their two granddaughters. When not engaged in teaching or musical performances, Lisa enjoys spending time with her family, crocheting, reading, and relaxing by the backyard campfire. She also loves cooking and  playing with her grandchildren. Music and family remain the focal points of Lisa's life, and she feels fortunate to have found a career that has allowed her to share her passion for both.


Rachel Felt Viola

Rachel Felt is a violist from Rexburg, Idaho. She received her Bachelors of Music Education from Brigham Young University-Idaho, and currently teaches at Creekside Middle School in the Bentonville District. She has played with community and pit orchestras in Rexburg, as well as the Idaho Falls Symphony. Locally, she has performed with the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra. She has taught private lessons for several years, and enjoys helping students develop their musical skills.





J Fennell Viola, Violin

J Fennell (they/them) has been a longtime resident of Northwest Arkansas and a part of the orchestral world for over 10 years. Primarily a violist and violinist, they’ve experienced the magic of music in a range of settings, including: performing professionally with the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra and the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas; participating in a range of chamber groups and musical ensembles, including All State and All Region orchestras; spending two summers at Luzerne Music Center, a music festival in New York’s Adirondack Mountains; and helping create Viola Power Hour at LMC, an annual celebration of all things viola (#violapride)!  

Most recently, after earning a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Science from Saint Louis University, J has enjoyed being back in NWA while teaching violin/viola lessons virtually, working as a Teaching Apprentice with the Arkansas Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and performing with the local symphonies.  

As a teacher, J strives to uplift students and help them realize that they can do anything they put their minds to! Music is one of the most beautiful and special things in life, and there are numerous ways to learn and enjoy it. By employing themes of self-empowerment, critical thinking and problem-solving, goal-setting, play, and positive habit building, J makes lessons not only educational and impactful but also FUN!

They’re excited to be teaching lessons at Palmer’s String Studio and look forward to meeting you! If you have any questions about J’s teaching style or want to chat with them about the many possibilities of how lessons could be, please reach out to jvfennell02@gmail.com. 



Max Shive  Violin

I am currently attending the University of Arkansas as a Pre-Med/Biology Major and Music Minor with violin. I'm an alumni of Bentonville West High School and was a part of the Chamber Orchestra, playing mostly the principal second violin. I've made it to All-Region and All-State consecutively for two years. I studied with Dr. Eun Seo Park before she left and played in her last recital with ParkNa Conservatory (later renamed OpenStringz). I now study with Andrew Chu and Dr. Er-Gene Kahng. Music is a great passion of mine and will continue playing throughout my life and I hope I can help others gain that same spark!




Hensen Bayles  Cello

Henson Bayles started playing the cello when he was eight years old and continues playing now as a senior in High School. He attends Bentonville High School and is a leader in the top chamber orchestra. He also performs in award-winning Garth Smith’s Sacred Christmas program and records. He has participated in All-Region and All-State Orchestra throughout his Junior High and High School years. He plays in the University of Arkansas Chamber Orchestra, which helps him prepare to play cello in college, as he hopes to attend music school at Brigham Young University. He looks forward to sharing his talents with the world and helping others do the same.

Kimberly Oehlert Manager / Lesson Coordinator / Instrument Repair Tech. / Bow Repair / Violin, Viola

Kimberly Oehlert is a Bentonville native who has grown with the area and has seen how much this tiny town has changed. When she entered middle school she took an interest in the brand new orchestra program that her school had recently started. After playing the viola in orchestra throughout her middle, junior and high school years she discovered that music was a passion and a potential career.

With a goal set in mind she decided to attend the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where she graduated with a Bachelors in music education. After teaching private lessons at a local music conservatory for six plus years she took an interest in violin repair. She now assists Raymond Palmer with basic repairs and set up work. She also went to a bow workshop in Ohio where she became certified in bow rehairing. With a lot of love towards Bentonville she enjoys talking to the local teachers and students and seeing new growth in the music programs in the area.