51ÂÜÀò

Conductor Daniel Brier enjoys a multi-faceted career which comfortably spans symphony, opera, ballet, and live movies. Since 2019, he has served as the music director and principal conductor of Opera Wilmington. In 2023, Brier was appointed director of orchestral studies and strings at 51ÂÜÀò’s Conservatory of Music and music director of youth music Monterey County. As a guest conductor, he has conducted the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic and St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic. He has collaborated with a diverse range of artists including Bobby McFerrin, Pablo Sainz Villegas, Rachel Barton Pine, Jennifer Frautschi and more.

Previously, Brier served as resident conductor and interim music director of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, founding Music Director of the Spectrum Orchestra and Assistant Conductor of the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra. Brier previously taught at Hope College, Andrews University, Western Michigan University, and the University of Michigan’s String Preparatory Academy.

Brier received his musical training at the University of Michigan’s renowned conducting program earning degrees in orchestral conducting with Kenneth Kiesler and choral conducting with Dr. Jerry Blackstone. He has participated in masterclasses with Giancarlo Guerrero, Hugh Wolff, Jorma Panula, Alexander Polishchuk, Victor Yampolsky, Carl Topilow and Ragnar Bohlin.