Hayden Drass Barnes ’00
Secrest Artists Series at Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
WFU Class of 2000
Major: Music
Tell us about your journey from graduation to where you are today:
My career has been a rewarding journey through the arts, marketing, and strategic development. I began as an artist agent with East Coast Entertainment in Richmond before returning to Winston-Salem—following my marriage to college sweetheart Chris Barnes (’00, MD ’04)—to serve as Marketing Director for the Winston-Salem Symphony. After a period in Roanoke working in Strategic Development for Carilion Clinic, we eventually found our way back home. I joined the Secrest Artists Series in 2015 and am honored to have stepped into the role of Artistic Director in 2025.
How much did your studies and general experience at Wake inform or drive your career path?
Like many Wake Forest students, I arrived with a mix of interests—specifically music and health sciences. While I eventually realized healthcare wasn’t my calling, the flexibility of a liberal arts curriculum allowed me to pivot. By combining the Business School’s Summer Management Program with Communication courses, I essentially crafted my own Arts Management path. This interdisciplinary background proved invaluable; in fact, I was once hired for a strategic role specifically because my artistic background offered a ‘new way of thinking’ that traditional business applicants lacked. Wake taught me that not being pigeon-holed is a significant professional advantage.
How did you find and apply to your job? Any tips or suggestions for the student audience on networking, interviewing and applying for jobs?
My career was launched directly from my experience as a Secrest Series student intern, which allowed me to attend the APAP conference and secure my first role. From that point on, every position I’ve held resulted from industry connections and community engagement. My best advice for students? Get out there and talk to people! While your skills get you the interview, your relationships often get you the lead. Don’t underestimate the power of being active in your local and professional communities. Meet people (in-person)! Volunteer!
What is your favorite part of living and working in Winston? What is the most interesting thing going on in the art scene there at the moment, in your opinion?
I’ll say it: current students underappreciate ‘The Dash.’ Everyone looks to Charlotte or NYC, but Winston-Salem has the perfect mix: great climate, proximity to the mountains/coast, and a low cost of living. Is the nightlife wild? Maybe not in the traditional sense, but as an adult with a 9-5, you’ll find plenty of life inside our concert halls (Hello, Secrest Artists Series!) and galleries. At the moment, I’m most excited about the massive investments in our cultural infrastructure, like the downtown amphitheater expansion, renovation of the Stevens Center, and the continued growth of the Innovation Quarter. My advice to students? Don’t be so quick to leave; the most interesting ‘adulting’ happens in cities where you can actually be part of the cultural fabric.
What is your favorite part about working with the Secrest Artists Series here at Wake?
Working at my alma mater is a gift, but the real perk is the ‘backstage pass’ lifestyle. I get to scout and bring internationally acclaimed talent to Winston-Salem, then watch as they interact with our incredible students. Curating these performances and masterclasses means I’m constantly surrounded by world-class creativity. It’s a pretty cool feeling to know that a concert I booked might be the highlight of a student’s four years here!
What and where is next for you?
I’m staying put! There is no place I’d rather be than at Wake Forest, helping to cultivate the ‘Wake the Arts’ movement. My goal for the coming years is to expand the footprint of the Secrest Artists Series, ensuring that every student—regardless of their major—has a meaningful, personal encounter with the arts while on campus. I’m committed to finding innovative ways for our visiting artists to impact campus beyond the stage—whether through deeper classroom residencies, interdisciplinary collaborations with departments like the Neuroarts Lab, or community-wide initiatives. I’m excited to continue evolving this series to serve the next generation of Deacons.
Any other kernel of advice you’d like to impart to the readers?
Expand your repertoire! Wake Forest is one of the few places where you can pair organic chemistry with vocal performance or business with art history. Take advantage of that. Stepping outside your academic comfort zone doesn’t just make you a better student; it makes you a more creative problem-solver. The most successful ‘adulting’ happens when you learn to connect the dots between seemingly unrelated fields.