Composer Spotlight: Bradley Baird

Born in Texarkana, Texas, BRADLEY BAIRD is an avid educator, composer, and performer in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Bradley Baird is the newly appointed Assistant Band Director and Percussion Director for Cypress Falls High School in Houston, Texas. ⁠

He is a recent alumnus of Texas Christian University where he earned a Master of Music in Percussion Performance while serving as a Graduate Assistant. Mr. Baird is also an alumnus of the University of Texas at Arlington, where he earned a Bachelor of Music while majoring in music education.⁠

Mr. Baird’s performance endeavors have led him to perform at numerous places and venues throughout the country. He has performed with groups such as the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps, where he served as Bass Drum Section Leader, Vigilantes Indoor Percussion, and with the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra where he served as Interim Principal Percussionist. Additionally, Mr. Baird served as a percussionist for the Miami Music Festival’s Symphony Orchestra Institute in the Summer of 2018. Lastly, he performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) with the UT-Arlington Percussion Ensemble in 2017 and again in 2019 with the Texas Christian University Percussion Orchestra.⁠
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Mr. Baird studied composition with Dr. Martin Blessinger and studied percussion with Dr. Brian A. West, Dr. Richard C. Gipson, Mr. Joey Carter, Mr. Jeff Hodge, Dr. Andrew Eldridge, and Dr. Michael Varner. Mr. Baird has and continues to avidly commission and serve on consortiums of new works for solo and chamber percussion. Since 2018, he has helped bring forth 10 compositions to the percussion repertoire through his efforts of commissioning and serving on consortiums. During his free time, he enjoys collecting sneakers, playing video games, and spending time outdoors, with his wife, and dog.⁠
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Mr. Baird’s professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educator’s Association (TMEA), the Percussive Arts Society (PAS), and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).