Brad Cawyer is principal conductor of Avant Chamber Ballet, leading multiple programs with the company since the 2016–17 season. Recent productions include Balanchine’s Who Cares?, Concerto Barocco, Walpurgisnacht Ballet, and Raymonda Variations, Katie Puder’s Appalachian Spring and Alice in Wonderland, and Paul Mejia's Romeo and Juliet and Nutcracker. In addition to a tenure as Music Director of the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra, Cawyer has collaborated with ensembles throughout the US, including engagements on the west and east coasts. Since 2014, he has worked with organizations in the Pacific Northwest, including: Orchestra Seattle / Seattle Chamber Singers, Rainier Symphony, Northwest Mahler Festival, and Oregon Bach Festival. In recent seasons Cawyer made his debut in Asia, conducting the State Philharmonic Orchestra of Mongolia. Additionally, he assisted Hans Graf in the Houston Symphony Orchestra’s GRAMMY award-winning production of Alban Berg’s Wozzeck. While studying with Alexander Alexeev in Saint Petersburg, Russia, he created the Contemporary East & West International Music Festival. His debut at the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic led to an invitation to be the conductor for the new music ensemble SOUNDWAYS. Before moving to St. Petersburg, Cawyer established the Texas A&M University orchestra, directing the ensemble for three seasons.