Conductor

Chief Warrant Officer Four William (B.J.) Brazier retired from the US Army in December 2013 after serving over 30 years on active duty, in the Army Reserve, and Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College and later continued graduate studies at VanderCook College of Music. He taught high school band and choir in South Dakota from 1979 to 1982. In 1983 he enlisted in the Army as a Trombonist, completed Basic Training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, accelerated through Advanced Individual Training at the Army School of Music, Norfolk, Virginia, and was assigned to the 98th Army Band, Ft. Rucker, Alabama.

Mr. Brazier returned to teaching in 1986 as Band & Choir Director at Rehobeth High School, Dothan, AL. In 1988 he became Band Director at Allegheny-Clarion Valley Jr.-Sr. High School, Pennsylvania, and in 1993 became Band Director at Punxsutawney Area Sr. High School, Punxsutawney, PA, "Home of the Groundhog," concluding his 13-year teaching career there in 1996.

While teaching, Mr. Brazier continued service in the Army Reserve, then transferred to the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, 28th Infantry Division Band in 1989. In October 1994 he was appointed Acting Commander/Bandmaster of the 28ID Band and was selected as a Warrant Officer Candidate. In October 1996 he relinquished this position to return to active duty as a Trombonist, assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division Band, Korea. In April 1997 he was once again selected to become a WO/Bandmaster, this time on active duty. CW4 Brazier has been Commander/Bandmaster of: the 282nd Army Band, Ft. Jackson, SC; the 2nd Infantry Division Band, Korea; the Army Medical Command Band (323rd AB), Ft. Sam Houston, Texas; the 2ID Band (2nd time); the Maneuver Center of Excellence Band (283rd AB), Ft. Benning, Georgia; the 2ID Band (3rd time); and the 282nd Army Band, Ft. Jackson, SC (2nd time) until retirement in 2013. His Military Awards include: the Legion of Merit; Meritorious Service Medal with both Silver and Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, (7); Army Commendation Medal with Two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Achievement Medal with Two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters; Good Conduct Medal; Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal; National Defense Medal (2); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Korean Defense Service Medal; NCO Professional Development Ribbon; and numerous Service Ribbons.

CW4 Brazier (ret) was also a Senior Army Instructor of JROTC for four years in FL and in SC until retiring from it in 2019. He is married to Kang, Hyesuk (Hyeju), and they reside in Columbia, SC. From August 2014 to May 2022, he served as the Conductor of the Camden Community Concert Band. He was the Assistant Conductor of the Columbia CCB from December 2016 until being appointed as the Conductor in August 2023.