Seth Brenzel

(he/him)

Seth Brenzel brings deep experience in art education, specifically through musicianship, improvisation, and composition. Currently, he serves as the Executive Director of San Francisco's acclaimed music academy Walden School, a summer music camp and festival that provides residential programs in New Hampshire for both youth and adults. Walden’s programs emphasize creativity and community through the study of music composition, improvisation, and choral singing.

Since 1995, Brenzel has sung as a tenor with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, and has sung as a professional (AGMA) member since 2011. He currently serves on the boards of the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, the San Francisco Parent Coalition, Ensemble Dal Niente, and is the board chair of the PRISM Quartet.

He served as the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Co-President of Glen Park Elementary School from 2019–2021. From 2013–2019, Seth served on the Board of Trustees of the San Francisco Friends School, serving three years as board co-clerk. In July 2022, he rejoined the San Francisco Friends School Board of Trustees. He has also served on the boards of Swarthmore College (in his role as President of the Swarthmore College Alumni Association), Earplay, and The Walden School.

Seth received his B.A., with degrees in Music and Political Science, from Swarthmore College. He received an M.B.A. from the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, with a focus in nonprofit management; he has also served on the Haas School’s Development Council. He is a 2012 graduate of Leadership San Francisco (LSF), where he occasionally serves as an alumni advisor. He has served as the SF Symphony Chorus union (AGMA/AFL-CIO) shop delegate and twice as a member of the shop’s CBA negotiating committee. Seth lives in Bernal Heights with his husband, Malcolm Gaines, and their daughter, Cora.