Announcing the Inaugural Presenter Development Program
Announcing the WAA Presenter Development Program
The WAA Presenter Development program is designed to bring new Presenters into the WAA conference and WAA marketplace with a meaningful commitment to growing and analyzing the current performing arts ecosystem. Participants in the WAA Presenter Development Program were selected through a competitive process ensuring a program vision and value alignment, as well as relevant booking opportunities available at the WAA conference to their ongoing work.
This year’s recipients are required to make a meaningful commitment to the conference through participating in a exhibitor matchmaking process as well as provide a booking report to inform additional research about the current performing arts booking process.
Daniel Bondi, The Faight
Daniel Bondi is the founder and talent buyer of The Faight, a 200-cap independent music, arts and events venue in San Francisco, and also books talent for The Foundry, a new 600-cap venue. His work focuses on year-round programming across live music, comedy, interactive shows, visual art and alternative formats. Daniel works closely with agents, managers, promoters and artists to discover new talent, develop West Coast routing opportunities and create intimate, memorable experiences for artists and audiences.
August “Gus” Denhard, Early Music Seattle
August Denhard performs on lute, theorbo, baroque guitar, Turkish oud, biwa, and a variety of guitar family instruments from Latin America. He is a cofounder of the Eurasia Consort and Trío Guadalevín, and has appeared with Ensemble Caprice, Baroque Northwest, Seattle Baroque Orchestra, the Oregon Symphony, and on many music series across the USA. He has served as the Executive Director of the largest early music presenter in the Pacific Northwest, Early Music Seattle, since 2000, where he has produced baroque opera performances, educational programs, and concerts with musicians such as Matthias Maute and Jordi Savall. In 2024 he was named Artistic Director of Early Music Seattle.
His colleagues and collaborators in early music and related genres are varied and numerous and include tenor Eric Mentzel, composer/oudist Münir Nurettin Beken, folklorist Abel Rocha, percussionist and educator Antonio Gómez, harpist Tomoko Sugawara, dancer and anthropologist Monica Rojas-Stewart, soprano Lisa Maria Rodríguez, and many others.
Gus has a longtime commitment to re-defining early music as an intercultural dialogue, challenging the historically Eurocentric confines of the genre. He works to expand the perception and practice of early music to connect ancient music traditions across the globe to celebrate the cultural ties we share. He does this through artistic planning, concert presentation, research, teaching, writing, advocacy, and community service.
August “Gus” Denhard, Early Music Seattle
Stacy Horne, Stern Grove Music Festival
Stacy Horne, Stern Grove Music Festival
Stacy Horne has built a distinguished, decades-long career in concert production and curated programming. She began in the late 1990s with the iconic Tibetan Freedom Concerts and later honed her craft under legendary jazz impresario George Wein at Festival Productions. She has directed major events like the CMJ Music Marathon and launched New York City’s beloved Hudson River Rocks concert series. After moving to the West Coast, Stacy produced some of San Francisco’s top festivals including Noise Pop, Treasure Island and Mill Valley. While programming at The Battery she curated more than 400 annual events, hosting luminaries from Jane Fonda to Snoop Dogg. Now as Director of Programming for the 89-year-old Stern Grove Music Festival, and as Executive Producer of San Francisco Music Week, Stacy continues to shape the cultural landscape with her vision, passion, and deep commitment to the live music experience.
Carolyn Jackson, Lesher Center
Carolyn Jackson, Lesher Center
Carolyn Jackson is the Assistant Director of the City of Walnut Creek’s Arts + Recreation Department, serving as General Manager of the Lesher Center and Managing Director of Center REP. In these roles she oversees programming including the Headliners presentation series, Center Repertory Company, Bedford Gallery, venue rentals, and educational programs. She has previously served as the City’s Arts + Recreation Community Relations Manager, and prior to that as Communications Director for non-profit theater Dance Place and Assistant Director for modern dance company DancEthos, both in Washington, DC. Jackson holds an M.A. in Arts Administration from American University.
Roger Menell, Denver Botanic Gardens & The Arvada Center
Roger Menell, Denver Botanic Gardens & The Arvada Center
Roger Menell lives in Boulder, CO and books two summer series nearby: Denver Botanic Gardens (2,500 cap) and The Arvada Center (1,500 cap). These series offer diverse musical programs ranging from Folk to Rock, Americana, Bluegrass, Blues, Singer-songwriter, Indie rock, Pop and more. Since landing in Colorado in 2005, Roger has also booked at the Velvet Elk Lounge, Swallow Hill Music, eTown and the Mishawaka. Roger’s music business career has also featured stints in radio programming, artist management, recording and publishing.
David Siegel, Ent Center for the Arts
David Siegel serves as executive director of the Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS, where he supports the Galleries of Contemporary Art (GOCA), Theatreworks, and the University’s academic mission. During his tenure, annual participation in Ent Center programs has increased 73 percent, Theatreworks subscriptions have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, and the venue now hosts more than 430 events for 130,000 visitors annually. Before joining UCCS, David served as chief executive officer of the Bee Vradenburg Foundation, a private grantmaking foundation supporting the arts in Colorado Springs. David is also an active professional violinist. He is a graduate of Manhattan School of Music, and performs with several ensembles, including Grass It Up and the Jeremy Facknitz Band.
David Siegel, Ent Center for the Arts
Clayton Shelvin, The Freight
Clayton Shelvin, The Freight
Clayton Shelvin is a performing arts administrator, fundraising consultant, and music industry professional with over 15 years of experience in driving organizational change in the non-profit sector. Clayton’s work is rooted in equity, community partnership, and social justice. Clayton is currently the Executive Director of The Freight, a 58-year-old music organization based in Berkeley, CA. He is a member of The Recording Academy (GRAMMY) and serves on the Board of Directors for Folk Alliance International. Before joining The Freight, he served as Director of Development at Alonzo King LINES Ballet and TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Before moving to the Bay Area, he served as Director of Performing Arts at the Acadiana Center for the Arts (Lafayette, LA), working across music, theatre, dance, and film, as well as mentoring and promoting up-and-coming local musicians; at Le Petit Theatre, a 106-year old cultural institution in New Orleans; and as a fundraising consultant focusing on rebuilding and designing fundraising strategies, implementing a culture of philanthropy, and refocusing foundation and corporate strategies.