Brent Miller has a multifaceted career of international acclaim as timpanist, percussionist, conductor and educator, whose performances across the globe have been reviewed as 'thrilling' and displaying 'the utmost virtuosity'. Brent's extensive orchestral career has included performances with most major orchestras in Australasia, including many years as acting principal timpanist of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. As chamber musician, Brent is a core member of Ensemble Q, Principal Timpanist of Melbourne Chamber Orchestra and co-Principal Timpanist of the Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra.
Brent studied timpani and percussion in Australia with Tom O'Kelly and Dr. Vanessa Tomlinson. Subsequently, by invitation, Brent studied intensively in France with the legendary Sylvio Gualda and is a proud advocate of Sylvio's virtuoso school of technique.
As an educator, Brent is a long-serving member of the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) and has given masterclasses, workshops, and professional development sessions around Australia. Brent was part of the teaching faculty at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music before joining the Melbourne Conservatorium in 2020 as acting Head of Percussion.
From Bach, to Boulez, to Basement Jaxx and beyond, Brent is passionate about expressing the musical capabilities of percussion instruments to the fullest degree which often leads to arranging works for percussion ensemble. Over 100 timpani compositions have been written for Brent in response to calls for scores. Recently, Brent recorded and premiered works by Linda Verrier and Miriama Young (with Lyndon Watts). Catherine Likhuta's Timpani Concerto, (written for Brent and commissioned via an international consortium led by the University of Melbourne) marks the second timpani concerto ever written by an Australian composer, and the first by a female.
As director, Brent Project Coordinated the 2016 Australian Percussion Gathering - a week-long festival attended by all tertiary percussion departments in Australia. In 2022, Brent curated Xenakis Xtravaganza at the Melbourne Conservatorium to celebrate the centenary of the composer, presenting most of his percussion oeuvre and commissioning Melbourne's own set of Sixxen created by Melbourne master craftsman John Rechter. Brent is also Vice President of the Percussive Arts Society Australian Chapter which, under new leadership, was revived in 2022.
Brent has directed the MCM Percussion Ensembles since 2020, rebranding as 'Myriad' in honour of Barry Quinn (revered former Head of Percussion). Each vacation, students spend time recording Australian works for a future CD release (Recently, works by: Steve Falk, Robert Cossom, Bridget Bourne. Next: Stuart Greenbaum, Katy Abbott, Catherine Likhuta).