Lys Wainwright Appointed Shop Manager at Vermont Violins in South Burlington
VERMONT VIOLINS NEWSROOM – Vermont Violins is exceptionally proud to announce that classical violinist, educator, and supply chain specialist Lys "Liz" Wainwright has been appointed as the new Shop Manager for our South Burlington location. Landing in the Green Mountain State this June, Lys will take up the helm to lead our retail expansions and directly deepen our relationship-driven service across New England’s string ecosystem.
Lys brings a rare, intersectional mastery to our team, combining more than twenty years of elite violin performance and student mentorship with an extensive, highly advanced background in corporate operations, retail storefront management, and global vendor logistics.
From the Southwest Conservatory to the Northeast Bench
Lys relocates to Burlington from Phoenix, Arizona, where she was deeply immersed as a performer, teacher, and community anchor. Most recently, she served as the Lead Teaching Artist at the Phoenix Conservatory of Music. In this role, she curated community-centered recitals and student showcases, built targeted enrollment structures, and guided hundreds of developing families through instrument selection, long-term technical milestone planning, and precise maintenance care regimes.
As an active freelance symphonic and chamber musician since 2012, Lys fundamentally understands the sacred relationship between an artist and the lutherie bench. She knows firsthand that having a compassionate, highly knowledgeable partner to guide a musician through sound post adjustments, tonal calibrations, and structural care can permanently reshape their creative path.
This performance-honed perspective perfectly matches her academic foundation. Lys holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with dual concentrations in Entrepreneurship and Operations from the University at Buffalo (The State University of New York). Her arrival marks a deliberate return to her native Northeast roots where she was born and bred.
Mastering Global Logistics and Curated Retail Experiences
What sets Lys apart as an innovative force for Vermont Violins is her impressive record of leadership in premium, specialty retail operations outside of the traditional music industry. She possesses a profound passion for fine, exotic teas and artisan beverage cultures, which has guided her through several prominent leadership roles.
Lys directed comprehensive logistics and demand forecasting for a rapidly expanding, plant-based culinary enterprise. Based in Bozeman, Montana, she oversaw wholesale accounts, vendor margins, and guest experiences, while establishing local artist collaborations. Spearheaded high-volume retail operations, local brand partnerships, and omni-channel visual branding in New York.
This formidable background ensures that our South Burlington storefront will be guided by an expert in inventory coordination, operational fluidness, and localized event marketing. Lys excels at transforming a simple retail transaction into a deeply welcoming, thoughtful, and confidence-inspiring experience for players of all levels.
A Warm Green Mountain Welcome
Lys’s move to Vermont is also a personal milestone. An avid outdoors enthusiast, she is relocating to be closer to her family and to fully immerse herself in the rural landscape of the Green Mountain State through hiking and rock climbing. Alongside her role at the shop, she will continue to build her own private violin teaching studio right here in the Burlington area.
"Independent music shops play an important role in supporting musicians and sustaining local music communities," says Lys. "I am deeply honored to contribute my experience, enthusiasm, and care to the team at Vermont Violins."
Lys brings a rare level of maturity, intellectual curiosity, and a relentlessly positive attitude to everything she touches. We invite our established clientele, local school orchestra directors, private instructors, and fellow musicians to stop by our South Burlington location this summer to greet Lys with a warm, signature Vermont welcome!
*This article was released by Vermont Violins on June 19, 2026. For media inquiries, product information access, or scheduling availability regarding our imported instrument collections, contact us directly at info@vermontviolins.com* or text us at 802 648 6371