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David Bernard

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David Bernard has gained recognition for his dramatic and incisive conducting in the United Stated and in over 20 countries on four continents. He serves as Music Director of the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony and the Massapequa Philharmonic. A multiple First Prize winner of the Orchestral Conducting Competition of The American Prize, Bernard was described in the judges’ remarks as, “a first-rate conductor…phenomenal performance…masterly in shaping, phrasing, technique and expressivity.”

Noted recent performances include Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring at Lincoln Center (“transcendant…vivid….expertly choreographed”, LucidCulture) and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at Carnegie Hall (“taught and dramatic”, superconductor). Bernard’s critically acclaimed catalog of recordings include a premiere recording of a new edition of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring (“committed and forceful…(with) thrilling moments”, Gramophone) and a complete cycle of Beethoven Symphonies praised for its “intensity, spontaneity, propulsive rhythm, textural clarity, dynamic control, and well-judged phrasing” by Fanfare Magazine.
Particularly active throughout the greater New York City area, David Bernard has appeared as a guest conductor with orchestras including the Brooklyn Symphony, the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Litha Symphony, Manhattan School of Music, the Massapequa Philharmonic, the New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble, the Putnam Symphony and the South Shore Symphony. Devoted to the music of our own time, he has presented world premières of scores by Bruce Adolphe, Chris Caswell, John Mackey, Ted Rosenthal and Jake Runestad, and distinguished concert collaborators have included Anna Lee, Jeffrey Biegel, Carter Brey, David Chan, Catherine Cho, Adrian Daurov, Pedro Díaz, Edith Dowd, Stanley Drucker, Bart Feller, Ryu Goto, Whoopi Goldberg, Sirena Huang, Judith Ingolfsson, Yevgeny Kutik, Anna Lee, Jessica Lee, Kristin Lee, Jon Manasse, Anthony McGill, Spencer Myer, Todd Phillips, Kristin Sampson and Cameron Schutza.

Bernard has worked on the Edwin F. Kalmus editorial team with Clinton F. Nieweg, retired librarian of the Philadelphia Orchestra, developing new editions of Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” and “The Firebird Suite—1919 Version,” which has been published in 2016. In addition, he has published his own editions of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, K. 622, and Schumann’s Symphony No. 2, Op. 61.

David Bernard is an acclaimed orchestra builder and is sought after for his artistic leadership and innovation in community engagement. Under his leadership as Music Director, both the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony and the Massapequa Philharmonic have thrived—with growing audiences, expanded ensembles and increased critical acclaim. Bernard’s approach to growing new audiences for classical music include engaging families in the community through schools, presenting multi-media concert presentations and developing a new concert format—“Classical Music from the InsideOut” where audiences sit inside the orchestra during concerts. David Bernard’s InsideOut concerts with the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony and the Massapequa Philharmonic have been acclaimed by WQXR, Newsday, ClassicalWorld and the Epoch Times, bringing an unsurpassed experience and level of engagement for the audiences of all ages.

David Bernard News


Linedy Genao and Sasha Merci to Star in LA EGOISTA Industry Presentation


Edgewood Entertainment will present an industry presentation of La Egoista, a new play from Dominican American playwright, performer and theatremaker Erlina Ortiz.

Park Avenue Chamber Symphony Kicks Off 2023-2024 Season With TRANSCENDENT TRIUMPH Next Month


The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony has announced its 2023-2024 season, including five programs led by music director David Bernard.

Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey Presents IMAGES AND IMAGINATION With David Bernard


On February 26th at 3PM, the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey will present “Images and Imagination” a journey through major symphonic works by illustrious French composers Debussy, Lalo and Berlioz. 

Park Avenue Chamber Symphony to Bring Immersive Impressionism to NYC


On Saturday, February 11th, the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony will continue its series of Immersive Classical Music events with Sea and Sky, a multimedia InsideOut Experience featuring Impressionist art, music and dance where audience members sit embedded inside the orchestra.

Eglevsky Ballet Returns To The Tilles Center


Eglevsky Ballet, Long Island's premier ballet company and academy, presents its annual production of the holiday classic, 'The Nutcracker' starring New York City Ballet soloist Miriam Miller as the 'Sugar Plum Fairy' and New York City Ballet principal Tyler Angle as the 'Cavalier'.

Previews: PARK AVENUE CHAMBER SYMPHONY AND MAHLER'S FIFTH recorded at DiMenna Center


There are those out in the ether who, upon hearing the name Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) on the radio will immediately switch the station. Mahler is boring. Mahler is long-winded. Mahler tunes wander all over the place. While these things can subjectively be true, given half a chance Mahler's music is none of those things.

Recursive Classics Announces Release Of Mahler Symphony No. 5 With The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony and David Bernard


Recursive Classics has announced the upcoming release of Mahler's Symphony No. 5, featuring David Bernard leading the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony.   This album will be available on December 2nd, 2022 at all major retailers, download sites and streaming services.

Massapequa Philharmonic Announces Season Kickoff SYMPHONIC SPOOKTACULAR


The Massapequa Philharmonic kicks off its 2022-2023 season with “SYMPHONIC SPOOKTACULAR” featuring the music of Camille Saint-Saëns and Hector Berlioz.

Review: PARK AVENUE CHAMBER SYMPHONY OPENING NIGHT at DIMenna Center


Chris Martin, principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic, and Kate Fruchterman of NYCO dazzled the audience.

Review: 'CLASSICAL JOURNEY' at DiMenna Center


While wearing a shirt inside out could earn some curious stares, attending a classical music concert with the words “Inside Out” in the title could earn some out and out confusion.  How can music, or an orchestra producing such music, be “inside out”?

 Eglevsky Ballet Announces David Bernard As New Music Director For Ballet Company


Celebrated conductor David Bernard has joined the artistic staff of Eglevsky Ballet as the company's first music director since the appointment of Maurice Brandon Curry as Executive Artistic Director in 2015. This historic moment in the company's history is an extraordinary development, as Eglevsky Ballet returns to having live music for their performances.

Christopher Martin and Kristin Sampson Join Park Avenue Chamber Symphony For 2022-2023 Season Kickoff


The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony kicks off its 2022-2023 season with “From Bach to Mozart: A Classical Journey”—an immersive InsideOut Concerts production featuring soloists Christopher Martin (Principal Trumpet, New York Philharmonic) and Kristin Sampson (Lead Soprano, New York City Opera). 

Park Avenue Chamber Symphony Announces its 2022/23 Season, 'Journeys and Soundscapes'


The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony has announced their 2022-23 season “Journeys and Soundscapes” featuring world class soloists, innovative experiences and symphonic music spanning Bach through Prokofiev.  

BWW Review: PARK AVENUE CHAMBER SYMPHONY's Mahler's Fifth at DiMenna Center


When some people hear the word 'community' before the word(s) chorus, theater, band, or orchestra, they really hear 'amateur.' Although amateur means to do something for the love of it, the word also seems to have a negative connotation when it comes to quality. After all, if there's no money involved, how can it be good? Doesn't money equal quality? So goes that reasoning. However, not all community performing arts groups are created equal. Some groups accept all comers. Some accept members strictly by audition, some by recommendation. But no matter how they are chosen, every single person no matter their ability level has in common with the rest; a love of the art they share.

Massapequa Philharmonic Renews Music Director David Bernard's Contract


The Massapequa Philharmonic has announced that they have renewed David Bernard's contract as their Music Director, securing his position with the orchestra through 2024. Since his appointment as Music Director in 2016, Maestro Bernard has led the expansion of the orchestra, driving its artistic growth and its position in the cultural fabric of Long Island. 

Park Avenue Chamber Symphony Brings Mahler Back To New York City


The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony will conclude its 2021-2022 season with a blockbuster event on Saturday, May 14th at 5PM led by Music Director David Bernard—'Mahler's Triumph”—a performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 5 with the audience seated amongst the musicians.  This will be the first full performance of a large-scale Mahler Symphony in NYC since March of 2020.

Massapequa Philharmonic features Tchaikovsky Competition Winner Zlatomir Fung at Adelphi


The Massapequa Philharmonic, Long Island’s Premiere Symphony Orchestra, will make its first appearance at the Adelphi Performing Arts Center on April 3rd at 3pm with a program entitled “Slavonic Serenade”. Music Director David Bernard will lead the orchestra in Brahms Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Liszt Les Preludes and Dvořák’s Cello Concerto. The cello soloist will be Zlatomir Fung, International soloist and Gold Medalist—and youngest winner—of the XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition.

David Bernard and The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony Will Return To Long Island Next Month


Following their sell-out recent debut performances of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker with the Eglevsky Ballet at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on Long Island, the Manhattan-based Park Avenue Chamber Symphony will make its first appearance at the Adelphi Performing Arts Center on March 6th at 3pm, with a program entitled “Ravishing Romantics”.

InsideOut Concerts Returns With Maxim Lando For The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony Season Opener


Opening their 2021/22 season, the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony and Music Director David Bernard celebrate the return of live audiences with 'Venerable Variations', a concert program encompassing Mozart's Concert Rondo in D for Piano and Orchestra, Brahms's Variations on a Theme by Haydn, and Elgar's Enigma Variations. Rising young pianist Maxim Lando, winner of the 2020 Gilmore Young Artist Award and perhaps best-known for partnering Lang Lang while the Chinese pianist was injured (Lando played the parts for Lang Lang's injured left hand).

David Bernard and Park Avenue Chamber Symphony Announce 2021/22 Season


The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony and their Music Director David Bernard have announced their 2021-22 season. The ensemble are riding high after some excellent reviews for their recent recording,

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