A champion of New Zealand composers, Brent has premiered many percussion, orchestral, and choral works to critical acclaim. In 2007, he premiered Karlo Margetic’s Xylophone Concerto with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and recorded the same work as a soloist with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Recently, he was assistant conductor for Claire Cowan’s Cinderella with the Royal New Zealand Ballet and served as Assistant Producer for NZSO’s recording of her ballet, Hansel & Gretel. In 2021, Brent conducted the New Zealand premiere of Lucy Mulgan's Red! with New Zealand Opera, and in 2023, the world premiere of Dame Gillian Whitehead’s Ngā Whetū o Matariki with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra. In 2024 Brent conducted the world premiere of Takerei Komene's emotionally charged E Kiwi E with the Wellington Brass Band and Orpheus Choir Wellington, honouring the 28th Māori Battalion.

 

In 2007, Brent was appointed Music Director of the Hutt Valley Orchestra. His eclectic and adventurous programming, exemplified by concerts featuring Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No.3 and Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana, earned him acclaim. During his decade-long tenure, he conducted ten symphonic workshops, tackling notable repertoire including Shostakovich's Symphony No.5, Beethoven's Symphony No.9, Holst's The Planets, and Mahler's Symphony No.1.

 

Brent's repertoire has expanded to include contemporary pop collaborations such as Synthony, a fusion of electronic dance music and symphony orchestra, including performances at New Zealand's largest music festival, Electric Avenue, and on a floating platform at Marina Bay, Singapore. He also recently conducted the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra alongside pop-sensation, Benee, for Benee Live with the NZSO. His musical directorship highlights include productions of Beauty and the Beast, Cavalleria Rusticana, Chicago, Les Misérables, My Fair Lady, South Pacific, and West Side Story.

 

Brent's contributions to music education are equally significant. He was the Head of Music at Wellington East Girls' College from 2010 to 2020, leading the school choir, Cantala, to international success, including a first-place win at the Summa Cum Laude Youth International Music Festival in Vienna. Brent continues to engage in educational projects, including workshops, mentoring, and adjudicating the New Zealand Choral Federation’s Big Sing Finale in 2023.

 

In demand as a percussionist, Brent is Orchestra Wellington's Principal Percussionist and acting Section Principal Timpani. He has undertaken casual work with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. In January 2024, he travelled to Tokyo for his third season of The Phantom of the Opera in Japan.

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Also in demand as a pianist, Brent has been the assistant director and pianist for the New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir since 2013. Since that time, the choir, auditioned every two years, has produced five albums and has toured throughout NZ and overseas, including Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and China. Brent has also accompanied at the Gisborne International Music Competition and the National Concerto Competition in Christchurch with the award-winning marimba soloist Yoshiko Tsuruta.

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Brent often serves as a producer for significant recording projects for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and regularly directs the filming of their live streams.