Daniel SingH

Executive Director

Driven by a lifelong passion for the performing arts, Daniel Singh is excited to serve as the Executive Director of New Spire Arts. An established leader in artistic programming, technology innovations, and business management, Singh looks forward to activating New Spire Arts in Frederick’s downtown theater district. Singh is committed to making New Spire Arts and the Frederick Theater District a destination for performing arts programs that range from the classic to cutting-edge.

Before joining New Spire Arts, Singh was Founder and Artistic Director of Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company in DC and Curator of DC’s signature Fall Festival Of South Asian Arts which brought dancers, actors, and musicians to the nation’s capital in a one-of-a-kind cultural diplomacy project. Singh was also instrumental in keeping alive the works of modern dance choreographer Anna Sokolow through a partnership that reconstructed the American icon’s dances and toured internationally. In 2013 he received the Pola Nirenska Award for Leadership in Dance, and in 2015 he was recognized with the Innovate Arts Award by the Mayor of Washington, DC.

Last show you loved?
Last show I loved was a dance production by Leela Samson from India titled Nadi (River). She wove together poems, stories, and songs around the concept of river in her performance that was poignant, joyful, and innovative.

Favorite genres?
Dance, Film, Poetry

Last movie you loved?
Pixar’s Coco

Julian Lazarus

Director of Education

Julian was instrumental in the launch of the STEAM initiative in Frederick County schools, where he was a drama teacher for 15 years. He was Co-Founder of Hostel YOUTH!, a teen theatre immersion program for The Contemporary American Theatre Festival. Julian consults with schools and counties on using arts in education and provides arts integration professional development.

Last show you loved?
Second Girl by Ronan Noone at the Contemporary American Theater Festival.

Favorite genres?
Gritty straight plays with a great anti-hero and children’s theatre

Last great book you read?
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Peter Couchman

Interim Director of Development 

While still a teenager, Peter began a career as a professional opera singer, touring North America, Europe and Asia, and making solo appearances at New York’s Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral. When not singing, Peter continued his work with non-profits in the performing arts and public garden industries, including institutional giving for NYC’s Metropolitan Opera, and marketing and sales for Culturefinder.com. In 2013, Peter became the first Executive Director of Frederick’s High Glen Gardens, leading them through their first master plan, first strategic plan, a new garden tour program, new database and mapping software, and significant garden development. Peter is thrilled to complement his continuing work at High Glen Gardens with a return to the performing arts as the Interim Director of Development for New Spire Arts.

Last show you loved?
Beth Ditto at the 9:30 Club in Washington DC. She rocks!

Favorite genres?
Music, musical theater and opera

Last great book you read?
I, Tonya

Grace Cassutto

Marketing Coordinator 

Grace graduated from Hood College in 2015 with a BA in Communications. As a Frederick native and a dedicated thespian, she is thrilled to be a part of bringing more performing arts opportunities to the community.

Last show you loved?
I was lucky enough to see the original cast of Hamilton in April 2016, so I’m gonna have to go with that! It 100% lives up to the hype.

Favorite genres?
Broadway musicals and sketch comedy

Last great movie you saw?
Moonlight

Austin Wilks

Facilities Assistant

Austin is currently getting a dual Associates Degree in Communications and Digital TV Production from Frederick Community College.

Last show you loved?
The Glass Menagerie at Towson

Favorite genres?
Spoken word and poetry

Last great movie you saw?
Thor: Ragnarok

Alexandra Blond

Volunteer Coordinator

A native of the Boston area, Alexandra lived in New York City for 12 years, moved to Northern Virginia in 2000, then to Frederick County in 2004. She has a B.S. in Speech Communications from Suffolk University in Boston and completed graduate courses at UMBC in Intercultural Communication and Teaching English as a Second Language. Alexandra is an experienced nonprofit management and marketing professional who has worked in many industries in the corporate sector, including finance, real estate, and customer service.

Alexandra is interested in dance, musical theatre, visual arts, photography, and folklore. She is particularly interested in how music improves the lives of people with dementia and she believes in the healing power of the arts, not just for individuals, but for communities.

Alexandra is married to Michael, an engineering supervisor at Honeywell/Intelligrated in Frederick; they have one dog and two cats. They are renovating 100-year-old farmhouse in Middletown. In her free time, Alexandra mentors a young girl she initially met through Big Brothers Big Sisters in Frederick. She enjoys introducing her to the performing arts.