Claire Armbruster

Claire Armbruster is a music event consultant for Planning Stages, a consulting business for live music production. Prior to Planning Stages, Claire was an artist manager at KCA Artists, where she worked with Guy Clark and Sierra Hull. Her career in music began in 1991 in Wilkesboro, NC volunteering for renowned music festival MerleFest, eventually filling the role of Artistic Director (2000-2007). It is her love of live music and connecting audiences to it that motivated Claire to return to the world of live production in 2014. Planning Stages’ client list includes The Franklin Theatre, Franklin, TN; Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Oak Hill, NY; International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA), Nashville, TN; Pujols Family Foundation, Nashville, TN; Borealis Records, Toronto, Ontario; musician and songwriter Claire Lynch, and the International Bluegrass Music Association.  Planning Stages is based in Nashville, TN, but there is no limit to where stages may be planned and live music produced.

---

Professional Affiliations

Member of:

• Americana Music Association, serving on the board from 2002-2006
• National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences
• International Bluegrass Music Association
• Folk Alliance International
• International Entertainment Buyers Association  

Claire is an alumnus of:

• Leadership Bluegrass, Class of 2000
• Leadership Music, Class of 2011
• University of North Carolina - Greensboro

Other Professional Experience

Claire's professional experience prior to establishing Planning Stages, Inc. includes:

• Co-producer or Stage Manager, Americana Music Association’s Honors & Awards, 2005 through 2009, Ryman Auditorium, Nashville TN

• Co-producer, International Bluegrass Music Awards, 2011 and 2012, Ryman Auditorium, Nashville TN