Barron Breland Found His Musical Home in Omaha

February 24th, 2026

Barron Breland was born in Alabama and raised in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. From an early age, music was more than an interest. It was a calling. That passion led him to pursue advanced studies in choral conducting at the prestigious Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where he earned his doctorate.

When he completed his degree, Breland accepted his first professional position at Creighton University in Omaha. The move was meant to be temporary, a short stop to gain experience before continuing on to the next chapter.

Instead, Omaha became home.

“My first job was Creighton University here in Omaha, Nebraska, where I expected to just be here a couple of years, get my feet wet, and then move on to whatever was next. And I have built a life and a career here that has just been incredibly fulfilling and wonderful.”

Over time, Breland put down deep roots in the community. He spent years teaching at Creighton before stepping into an administrative leadership role. Through it all, his connection to conducting and choral music never faded.

Today, Breland wears several hats across Omaha’s music scene. He serves as principal guest conductor of Resonance, a professional choral ensemble known for its ambitious programming. He collaborates with the Omaha Symphony, preparing singers for large-scale performances. And he leads the River City Mixed Chorus, a vibrant community ensemble that brings nearly two hundred voices together.

Each ensemble is different, but the goal remains the same: to create meaningful musical experiences that connect people.

“I get to do a lot of really incredible music-making here in the Omaha community.”

A defining part of Breland’s work is mentorship. Through Resonance, young musicians from the Omaha Conservatory of Music perform side by side with experienced professionals. For Breland, nurturing the next generation of artists is not just important, it is essential to sustaining the art form.

Like many in the performing arts, Breland faced unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Choral singing, once a symbol of togetherness, was suddenly viewed as a public health risk. Rehearsals stopped. Concert halls fell silent.

For a conductor whose life centers on collective sound, the pause was profound.

But as restrictions eased, Breland helped lead the return of choral masterworks to Omaha stages.

“Ever since COVID, the Omaha Symphony, rightfully so, we all took a step back from vocal choral singing as super spreader events. And we’ve sort of re-engaged with that kind of art form that the symphony hasn’t had a choral masterwork on its season in a while… Resonance has sort of filled that gap a little bit in the community programming by putting together these orchestral masterworks.”

His response reflects more than professional dedication. It speaks to his belief in what music can do for a community. Where there was a gap, he helped rebuild. Where there was silence, he helped restore harmony.

Barron Breland continues to prepare the next concert, the next collaboration, the next generation of singers. What began as a brief career stop has become a life’s work, rooted in Omaha and resonating far beyond the podium.