Brendan McBrien

Brendan McBrien grew up in Sunnyvale, California where he began his musical training on the French horn in 4th grade. He moved to Southern California and attended California State University, Long Beach, receiving his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music composition and conducting.

For over 30 years he was a professional French horn player in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas played for symphony, television, movie, and theater orchestras. Brendan’s many compositions and arrangements for band and orchestra are performed worldwide and published with the Alfred, Belwin, Kendor, Kjos, and Wingert-Jones Music Companies.

Brendan is an active adjudicator, clinician, and honor group conductor who has served multiple terms on the board of the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association. He has presented many workshops at both state and local conventions and has received several awards including Middle School Teacher of the Year for the Irvine Unified School District. Brendan began teaching in Irvine in 1988 and is currently the director of bands and orchestras at Rancho San Joaquin Middle School. He also teaches Music Arranging at California State University, Long Beach. Decidedly, Brendan’s greatest joy is being married to his wife Karen, and father to his sons Kevin and Patrick, and daughter Megan.