Bassoonist Brad Balliett graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University in 2005, where he majored in composition under Robert Levin, Elliott Gyger, and John Harbison, and studied bassoon with Richard Ranti. Brad completed his master's degree at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music in 2007, where he was a student of Benjamin Kamins. Upon graduation from Rice, Brad played second bassoon in the Houston Symphony during its 2007–2008 season. Brad has appeared at such festivals as Tanglewood, Lucerne, Aspen, and Spoleto USA. As a composer, Brad's music has been widely heard, including performances at Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New England Conservatory, Rice University, Boston University, Aspen Music Festival, New York University, Northwestern University, the Salle Cortot at the École Normale de Musique in Paris, and on National Public Radio. Also active as a rapper, Brad performs as part of the experimental hip-hop dyad The Oracle Hysterical. As part of his fellowship program, Brad teaches in Brooklyn at PS 315.