Southern California-based conductor Daniel Brier enjoys a dynamic career spanning symphony, opera, ballet, and live film performances. He is the Music Director and Principal Conductor of Opera Wilmington. His recent guest engagements include appearances with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony, Toledo Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Monterey Symphony, Lexington Philharmonic, Adrian Symphony, Whiting Park Symphony Orchestra, and St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic. In recent seasons, he has collaborated with Bobby McFerrin, Pablo Sáinz Villegas, Rachel Barton Pine, Jennifer Frautschi, and more. As an opera conductor, Mr. Brier has recently conducted new productions of Don Giovanni, Tosca, La Traviata, Die Zauberflöte, La Bohème, Hänsel und Gretel, and Le nozze di Figaro.

In 2022, he concluded an eight-year tenure with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, where he served as Interim Music Director, Resident Conductor, and Assistant Conductor. During his time in Kalamazoo, he conducted a wide range of concerts, including subscription masterworks, chamber orchestra, pops, family, education, and summer park programs. Under his leadership, the orchestra diversified its programming, expanded community partnerships, launched innovative concert series, and inspired young audiences through imaginative educational initiatives.

Mr. Brier is also an active educator, serving as Music Director of Youth Music Monterey and holding teaching positions at the University of Michigan’s String Preparatory Academy, the Conservatory of Music at Biola University, Hope College, Western Michigan University, and Andrews University.

Earlier in his career, he was the founding Music Director of the Spectrum Orchestra and Assistant Conductor of the Lexington Philharmonic. His artistry has earned recognition, including a prize at the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic International Conducting Competition and an invitation to study with John Nelson at the Orchestre de chambre de Paris.

A graduate of the University of Michigan’s acclaimed conducting program, Mr. Brier holds degrees in orchestral and choral conducting under Kenneth Kiesler and Dr. Jerry Blackstone. He contributed to the GRAMMY®-nominated recording of Milhaud’s L’Orestie d’Eschyle (Naxos) and has participated in masterclasses with Giancarlo Guerrero, Hugh Wolff, Jorma Panula, Alexander Polishchuk, Victor Yampolsky, Carl Topilow, and Ragnar Bohlin.

Updated November 2024

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