Staff

Owner: David Rennard

When you are born into a family with a long heritage of musicians, it is inevitable you’ll be bitten by the music bug eventually. David started taking piano lessons as a young child. He soon became interested in his sister’s ukulele which led to learning guitar by age 10. Performing professionally primarily as a guitar player, David has also performed bass guitar, keyboards, and vocals in a variety of bands throughout his career. He has composed and recorded many songs including the theme song for Eagle Creek Park.
After 10 years as a music educator, David had an opportunity to acquire Phelan Music Studios in 1987 and created Carmel Music Center in the same building it exists today, what is now currently the longest running retail business in Carmel’s Arts and Design District.
David is happy to still be so visibly active contributing to the enjoyment of music to both beginning and seasoned musicians and feels blessed to be able to see many former young students who now bring their children in to purchase their first instrument and take music lessons.
Sales Associate: Jim Nowlan

Jim received his music education at Ohio State University and has been playing music professionally since 1968. His musical travels have taken him coast to coast. Originally from Detroit, he moved to San Diego in 1985 and spent 30 years there teaching and playing guitar.  Jim started working at Carmel Music Center in 2015 as a product specialist and guitar technician. Jim brings joy and smiles to students and customers at Carmel Music Center.  Don't let his size fool you, he's really quite harmless without a guitar.
Sales Associate: Haley Stevenson

Haley began her musical adventure with piano lessons in elementary school. In 5th grade, she decided to try out the viola instead and has stuck with it ever since. She graduated with a degree in Music and Communications at Butler University and is now one of the viola and violin teachers on staff here at CMC. It is hard to work here without getting interested in playing the guitar, so now she takes classical guitar lessons with one of our guitar instructors, Chris Keith.
Aside from her work at the store, Haley plays with The Deoc Ensemble for weddings all over Indiana and Classical Music Indy for their Random Acts of Music concerts. She also runs social media for the Mu Phi Epsilon professional music fraternity. In her free time, she likes playing video games and listening to true crime podcasts.
Sales Associate: Chester Greyhound
Since: April 20, 2006

Chester has been busy playing outside our store since he first joined our team. He has been diligent in his playing, standing outside in the rain, the snow, the cold, the heat. He has truly been a great asset to the team here. Some even say that you can see him move if you stare long enough. Our violin instructor has pointed out that there are a few technic issues to be addressed however.