At the University of California, Berkeley, Brico worked as an assistant to the director of the San Francisco Opera.

During that period she was also a pupil of Karl Muck, conductor of the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra, with whom she studied for a further three years after graduation.

[8] During an extensive European tour, in which she appeared both as a pianist and a conductor, Brico was invited by Jean Sibelius to conduct the Helsinki Symphony Orchestra.

[10][11] She taught piano or conducting to such students as Judy Collins, Donald Loach, James Erb and Karlos Moser.

[2] Brico continued to appear as guest conductor with orchestras around the world, including the Japan Women's Symphony.