David Bernard Takes Top Honor at 2013 Orchestral Conducting Competition Of The American Prize

David Bernard has been selected as a 2013 First Prize winner of the Orchestral Conducting competition of The American Prize, a national competition for conductors. In making their selection from a diverse group of conductors from across the United States, the panel of judges described Mr. Bernard as "A first rate conductor. With no score, an animated and present Maestro Bernard led a phenomenal performance of incredibly difficult repertoire --masterly in shaping, phrasing, technique and expressivity. A great pleasure to watch and listen to."

David Bernard is music director of New York City's Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, a post he has held for 14 years. Bernard has led performances in more than 20 countries on four continents, including a nine-city tour of the People's Republic of China with the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony and guest conducting appearances with the China Conservatory Orchestra, the New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble and the Putnam Symphony. Bernard has previously served as Music Director of the Stony Brook University Orchestra, the Gilbert and Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island and Theater Three. He also held the post of Assistant Conductor of both the Jacksonville and Stamford symphony orchestras.

Bernard's discography includes 17 albums spanning music from Vivaldi to Copland released on iTunes, Amazon.com, Napster, Rhapsody and Spotify of which Fanfare Magazine acclaimed "David Bernard's interpretations are splendidly proportioned; from the first note to the last the listener feels that this is the way the whole work must go...balances are expertly judged and wonderfully blended...overall, distinguished and elegant music making."

David Bernard is an alumnus of The Curtis Institute of Music, The Juilliard School and Stony Brook University.