Bucklesweet is the brainchild of media maven Amanda Sweet, who brings strategic public relations and marketing expertise to a diverse roster of artists, musicians and institutions.
Amanda Sweet
Amanda Sweet has been a marketing and public relations specialist for 20 years, with developed expertise in a variety of industries including arts and entertainment, food, and luxury goods. Since 2008, Ms. Sweet has worked as founder and president of Bucklesweet. She has held senior management positions at prestigious record labels including Telarc and Heads Up, both subsidiaries of Concord Music Group, and Atlantic Records.
At Bucklesweet, Ms. Sweet has signed and represented a diverse client roster including: opera singers Kristine Opolais, Jennifer Rowley and Lucas Meachem; PUBLIQuartet, Turtle Island Quartet; legendary rock drummer and composer Stewart Copeland; organist Cameron Carpenter; and Third Coast Percussion. Ms. Sweet has also represented major performing arts institutions including The Blues Foundation; Washington Performing Arts; University Musical Society, American Pianists Association; Steinway & Sons; Levine Music; Strathmore; and festivals such as Bravo! Vail; Virginia Arts Festival; and Women’s Voices Theater Festival.
A thought-leader and sought-after expert, Ms. Sweet is a member of the Americana Music Association, the Blues Foundation, and is a voting member of the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), home of the annual GRAMMY® Awards. She is engaged regularly to speak with students and young artists about the music business and how to develop a comprehensive promotions and media strategy. Most recently, Ms. Sweet has served as a speaker/mentor with the DeVos Institute of Arts Management, American University’s Kogod School of Business, the Manhattan School of Music, and Strathmore’s Artist-in-Residence. Ms. Sweet was named one of the Top 30 Professionals by Musical America in 2019.
Kristen Turner
Kristen Turner is a seasoned communications strategist and arts advocate with a decade of experience amplifying the voices of some of the nation’s leading classical music institutions. As Director of Communications at Bucklesweet, Kristen brings her deep industry knowledge, storytelling savvy, and media acumen to support a dynamic roster of artists, organizations, and cultural clients.
Before joining Bucklesweet, Kristen served as Director of Public Relations, Classical at the Kennedy Center, where she led national and international media strategy for the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, Fortas Chamber Music Concerts, and other classical initiatives during a period of intense change for the institution.
Previously, she was the Director of Communications, Content, and Digital Strategies at the San Diego Symphony, where she played a critical role in expanding the institution’s press and digital footprint during a period of transformational growth. Kristen helped to promote the launch of the organization’s acclaimed Rady Shell at Jacobs Park and oversaw communications and public relations for the $125M renovation of Jacobs Music Center. Furthermore, during her time in San Diego, the Symphony saw a 50% increase in social media reach, and its digital storytelling efforts—including artist features, behind-the-scenes content, and campaign videos—received wide success. She also secured national and international media placements in The New York Times, Forbes, Le Devoir, and Musical America, among others.
Kristen’s career is grounded in a belief that compelling stories move audiences, and move the arts forward. She is a proud graduate of the University of Houston’s MA in Arts Leadership program, with earlier degrees in vocal performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Northern Arizona University.
Lee Clifford
Consultant Lee Clifford is a digital storyteller and creative strategist whose work blends cinematic craft with a marketer’s intuition. For more than a decade, he has produced documentary-style films, livestreams, brand stories and performance videos for organizations across the country—including Concert Artists Guild, Dance Kaleidoscope, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Musical America and many others. Prior to focusing on film, he held marketing leadership positions at American Piano Awards, IndyCar and IBM. His ability to translate artistic experiences into compelling visual narratives was shaped through years of hands-on production and a committed focus on elevating creative individuals, educators and cultural institutions.
Brittany Laeger
With a robust background in public relations and strategic communications, Brittany Laeger brings a multi-faceted skill set with more than a decade of experience within the arts.
Prior to joining Bucklesweet as a Consultant, Brittany served as Senior Press Representative (Non-Classical) at the Kennedy Center, where she led media strategy for dance, comedy, Arts & Wellbeing, Theater for Young Audiences, along with closely supporting the Center’s theater season.
During her tenure at the Center, she spent five years co-leading PR efforts of marque events Kennedy Center Honors and Mark Twain Prize for American Humor resulting in top-tier coverage from international and national media such as New York Times, CBS Mornings, Washington Post, NPR, Associated Press, Reuters, Entertainment Tonight, and USA Today, among others.
Brittany served as an editorial board member for CENTER magazine and blog, where she helped shaped strategy working with in-house and external writers for stories across a range of subject matters. Additionally she was part of the integral team to design and implement digital programs for the Center’s seasons. Furthermore, she worked on publicity efforts for significant institutional milestones including the Center’s first expansion of its campus, The REACH; 50th Anniversary Season; opening of Arts and Ideals: President John F. Kennedy permanent exhibit; and numerous international festivals.
Driven by the conviction that the arts can unite us despite our differences, Brittany believes that it is more important than ever to share those stories that can spark connection and contribute to change.
Photo Credit: Johnny Shryock Photography
Katelyn Kovach
Katelyn Kovach is a passionate and creative young professional utilizing the impact of the arts and storytelling to inspire change.
Before joining Bucklesweet as a Social Media Consultant, Katelyn graduated from the George Washington University with a dual degree in Marketing and Theatre. She has worked on the social media teams of The Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, and the Write Out Loud Project, where she has enjoyed creating content that drives audience engagement and connection.
Katelyn currently serves on the Marketing and Communications team at Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital, where she spearheads social media campaigns and strategy, and advocates for youth leadership programming and non-profit development in the Greater Washington region. At the intersection of mission-driven work and imaginative storytelling, Katelyn aims to build inclusive narratives and amplify voices that deserve to be heard.