QueenFish Studios was founded by Karen van Oene and Richard Sweat in 2005 and is located in Winter Springs FLorida. QueenFish Studios Inc. is the brainchild of two percussionists who have known each other since childhood. Karen and Richard grew up together in the same "hood" in Plantation Florida.  Karen, living in the house around the corner, would hear Rich practicing the drums on cool days when the windows were opened wide and the sound carried through the yard. She would jump on her bike to ride around the corner, sit in his driveway, and listen. She was 8, he was 10. Inspired, Karen pulled out her mother’s old cocktail drums and bongos and constructed a makeshift drum set. She would listen to the Beatles and emulate the sounds of Ringo Star which prompted her mother to get lessons for her. Months passed and Karen would continue to ride her bike to Rich's driveway, study his progress, and set back homeward for more practice. In Middle School, they rode the same bus but didn’t pay much attention to each other. Both were in the band program but Karen, being a girl, was discouraged from playing the drums in 6th grade so she took up flute. She watched Rich with admiration as he played in the 8th grade band. The following Year, Rich set off to High School and Karen changed Middle Schools. In her new school she was encouraged to play the drums in which she was already accomplished.

Both Karen and Rich challenged themselves with All County, All State and Solo and Ensemble. When Karen began High School as a freshman, Rich was a junior and the drum line’s section leader. The Plantation High School Marching and Concert bands were excellent and extremely competitive. The program brought the 200 plus band members close together as a family where they would spend every free hour with each other practicing, traveling, eating and sleeping. Having a working mother, Karen had to rely on Rich for rides home from after school practices. Those rides were fun and educational as she listened to great music and listened to Rich talk, which was rare, about his favorite drummers. After Rich left High School, Karen moved on to lead the high school percussion section. Rich and Karen ended up together again in a college percussion ensemble directed by a local percussion teacher who instructed both of them at that time. Rich studied Music at BCC and moved on to make a successful Career with music moving out to California to become a studio musician and play with some great names in the industry. Karen went on to FSU with a music scholarship and majored in Music Performance. That was the last time Richard and Karen would see each other for 24 years. In January or 2004, Richard contacted Karen. He found that she was instructing drumline and clinic for two schools and was rehearsing her novelty percussion performance group while he was playing for various groups and organizations. The rest is history! Please see Rich’s and Karen’s individual bios!

Call QueenFish Studios at (321) 604-1396