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 NC. In 2023, Mr. Brier was appointed Music Director of Youth Music Monterey County and Director of Orchestral Studies and Chamber Music at Biola University’s Conservatory of Music.  

As a guest conductor, he has conducted the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic, Adrian Symphony, Whiting Park Symphony Orchestra, 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, Mr. Brier served the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra as Interim Music Director (2017-18), Resident Conductor (2016-17, 2018-2022), and Assistant Conductor (2014-16). Under his leadership, the orchestra diversified its programming, expanded its community partnerships, innovated new concert series, and reached young people with inspiring and imaginative programming. He also served as founding Music Director of the Spectrum Orchestra, Assistant Conductor of the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, and conductor of the University of Michigan Orpheus Singers. Mr. Brier previously held positions with Hope College, Andrews University, Western Michigan University, and the University of Michigan String Preparatory Academy. He has also worked with young musicians at the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra, Kids In Tune, Orion Chamber Music Society, and more.

Mr. 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. In 2010, he was awarded a prize for his “exceptional conducting” during the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic’s International Conducting Competition. Later, in 2012, he received an invitation to study with John Nelson at the Orchestre de chambre de Paris. Mr. Brier has conducted in masterclasses with Giancarlo Guerrero, Hugh Wolff, Jorma Panula, Alexander Polishchuk, Victor Yampolsky, Carl Topilow, and Ragnar Bohlin.