The Northwest Arkansas Community Orchestra is committed to making music accessible to all, creating a welcoming space for people of every age and background to grow, share, and enjoy music. Our mission is to inspire a lifelong love of music through engaging performances, collaboration, and community connection.
We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to experience and create music, regardless of age, background, or skill level.
Music brings people together. We foster connections between musicians and audiences throughout Northwest Arkansas.
We encourage continuous learning and improvement, supporting musicians at every stage of their musical journey.
Music Director, Co-Founder
Lisa Fried is a violinist and music educator originally from Des Moines, Iowa. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Drake University, where she studied violin with Dr. Wilfred Biel, a student of the renowned pedagogue Ivan Galamian. She spent 30 years as an orchestra director in an urban school district in central Iowa. Throughout her career, Lisa has been actively engaged in community music-making.
In Iowa, she founded and directed the Christian Youth Orchestra, which expanded to serve both student and adult musicians. She later became a founding member of the Northwest Arkansas Community Orchestra (NWACO). In addition to her community involvement, she maintains a large private string studio, teaching individual students and ensembles.
In 2021, Lisa was named the Des Moines Rotary Foundation Educator of the Year in recognition of her strong orchestra programs and the impact her students made through community performances. Lisa and her husband now live in Northwest Arkansas near their grandchildren. Music and family remain central to her life, and she is grateful for a career that allows her to share both with others.
Music Director, Co-Founder
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.>
Music Director
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.>
Lisa Fried
Lydia Trueblood
Mike Fried
Bailey Bailey
Catherine Hanson
Ben Weir
Rachel Felt
Mary Pearl
Justin Pearl
Kathryn Bashaw
