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. 

Claire is based out of Brevard, NC.

Zach Taylor
Event Coordinator, Talent Buyer //

Zach is an Event Coordinator and Talent Buyer at Planning Stages. Zach graduated from Warren Wilson College in December of 2022 where he studied Business and Traditional Music. Zach joined Planning Stages shortly after 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.

​Zach is based out of Chattanooga, TN.

Bailee Brandon
​Event Coordinator, Administrative Assistant //

Bailee is a first-year student at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. She is majoring in Creative and Entertainment Industries and will likely minor in Audio Engineering Technologies. Bailee has worked on the artist relations team at the 2022 and 2023 Earl Scruggs Music Festival, as well as support for Bryan Sutton’s Blue Ridge Guitar Camp. Growing up going to a variety of bluegrass festivals nurtured Bailee’s love for live music and pushed her to help others have and enjoy the same experience. She is so excited to join the Planning Stages team!

Bailee is based out of Nashville, TN.

Katie Van Iderstine 
​Event Coordinator //

Katie is an Event Coordinator at Planning Stages and utilizes her diverse experience in venue management, event oversight and customer service to provide an organized, flexible approach to festival and concert coordination.  Having had a life-long passion for music, art and spreadsheets, Katie is thrilled to have the opportunity at Planning Stages to blend creativity and logistics– to present vibrant, relevant, seamless live music events.

Katie is based out of Brevard, NC.

​Jeff Koontz

Technical Support //

Jeff Koontz brings more of a technical approach to the creativity of Planning Stages' staff. After a 35+ year career as a civil engineer "designing roads that get musicians from gig to gig" he is transitioning into a more active role with Planning Stages and other live music events. His goals are to improve the efficiency of festival and event planning through technology and to enhance the experience for the production team, volunteers, artists, and attendees.

Jeff is based out of Brevard, NC.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TEAM //

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
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

Professional Affiliations //
Honors & Awards //
  • Eagle Scout ('19)​
  • Leadership Bluegrass Class of '25


LEARN MORE ABOUT BaileE
  • Bailee has played fiddle since age 7, is a 4th generation musician, and takes inspiration from a variety of styles and influences. She has been guided for several years by Josh Goforth as her teacher.
  • She is the Co-Producer of the Youth Talent Celebration, a showcase event planned in conjunction annually with the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival, the nation's longest continuously running folk festival, held in Asheville NC. This event celebrates young artists hailing from Western North Carolina.
​LEARN MORE ABOUT Jeff​
Jeff is alumnus of //
  • North Carolina State University :: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
  • IBMA Leadership Bluegrass :: Class of 2024
Other Professional Experience //
​