Claire Armbruster

Founder, CEO //
Claire Armbruster is a former artist manager at KCA Artists, where she worked with Guy Clark and Sierra Hull. Prior to coming to Nashville, TN in 2007, Claire worked for renowned music festival MerleFest for 15 years where she was Artistic Director for six of them. It is her love of live music and connecting audiences to it that motivated Claire to start Planning Stages in 2014. 
Learn more about claire

Professional affiliations //
​


Claire is an alumnus of //
Other Professional Experience //
Claire's professional experience includes:
  • Co-producer or Stage Manager, Americana Music Association’s Honors & Awards, 2005 through 2009, Ryman Auditorium, Nashville TN


Zach Taylor

Event Coordinator, Administrative Assistant //

Zach is an event coordinator at Planning Stages. Zach graduated from Warren Wilson College in December of 2022 where he studied Business and Traditional Music. Zach joined Planning Stages to carry out his goal to create spaces for people to enjoy music. Prior to coming to Planning Stages, Zach worked at WolffPack Productions where he sold and settled merchandise deals for Harrah’s Cherokee Center of Asheville.
Learn more about zach
Zach is an alumnus of //
  • Warren Wilson College, Class of 2022 :: Bachelor's degree in Business with a minor in Traditional Music
Honors & Awards //
  • Eagle Scout ('19)​

Bob Sinclair

Event Coordinator //

Bob Sinclair is a highly-energetic, adaptable and articulate creative with experience producing a wide range of local/regional/national music experiences as a performer, talent buyer, event planner and consultant. Bob is recognized as a spirit-leader, independent thinker, communicator, entrepreneur and problem solver with a long and diverse career across many sectors of the music industry. He has a solid history of successfully engaging with venues, musicians, media outlets, sponsor entities (public and private), grant/funding agencies, and technical support teams (sound and lighting) to create memorable experiences.
​LEARN MORE ABOUT Bob
Talent Buying/Consulting Experience - Bob Sinclair Music LLC //​Talent
  • 25 years of promoting music as event operations manager, management consultant, tech advance and talent buyer for local, regional and national music events/venues
  • Founder/Event Planning Contract w/ City of Hickory, NC Sails Original Music Series – 12 yrs 
  • Talent Buyer/Music Director for Flat Rock Music Festival (5 years), Blue Ridge BBQ Festival (6 years), Lakeside Music Series (2 years) 
  • 23 years as program director of a successful house concert series – national touring acts
  • Provide sonic/acoustic consultation to non-profits / for-profit venues
  • Board of Directors – Acoustic Stage, Hickory, NC (10 years)
  • Music Event Consultant to municipalities, venues, private ventures, non-profits
  • Volunteer Coordinator for Artist Relations – Merlefest (3 years)
  • Artist Relations support to Earl Scruggs Inaugural Festival – 2022-23 (4 years)
  • Artist Support - Down Home Music Hall – Johnson City, TN
Bob is an alumnus of //
  • Western Carolina University :: Bachelor's Degree in English/Psychology
  • East Tennessee State University :: Masters Degree in Counseling
Performing Musician Highlights //
  • Performing songwriter – regional/national touring performer with 2 CDs of original songs self-funded with supplemental funds by the NC Council for the Arts
  • Station Inn – Nashville, TN
  • Bluebird Café “Saturday Night” artist –
  • Nashville, TN
  • United Center for the Performing Arts - Idaho
  • Springs, CO
  • King Pup Radio broadcast (international
  • syndicated radio)
  • PBS televised performance – Song of the
  • Mountain – Lincoln Theater, Marion, VA
  • Swallowhill Songwriter Series - Denver, CO
  • MerleFest performer
  • Festival “Emerging Artist”
  • Merlefest Fresh Faces CD
Honors & Awards //
  • Bob Sinclair - Always CD selected as WNCW Top Ten Regional Music Release
  • Three-time recipient of the NC Regional Artist Grant for performance and songwriting
  • Award as City of Hickory, NC’s Doers and Makers for 2023




​Jeff Koontz

Event Coordinator //
​LEARN MORE ABOUT Jeff