About Me

Bernard John Kane Jr

Biography

Born and raised in Cardiff, Wales, Bernard Kane began his musical studies as a chorister in the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. David, Cardiff.  Bernard began playing the violin at the age of twelve, changing to the viola three years later.  At the age of eighteen he won a place to study viola at the Royal College of Music in London where he was awarded an exhibition scholarship and later earned his B Mus (hons) degree.

After applying to Graduate Schools in the United States, Bernard was offered a full scholarship to study a Masters Degree at Yale University; this was awarded in 1997. 

In addition to performing in orchestras such as the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, the National Chamber Orchestra of Wales and the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, The Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Vancouver, Bernard played in Quincy Jones’ Orchestra at the opening of the Atlantis Hotel, The Bahamas, was a founder member of the London Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and was founder and director of the South Wales based chamber ensemble ‘Chameleon Cymru’.

In December 2006, Bernard performed in the CBC Glenn Gould Studio, Toronto, Canada. In addition to viola performances, Mr. Kane has narrated at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Norfolk CT, with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and has been broadcast nationwide on CBC, Canada.

Music Festivals where Bernard has performed in include: the Verbier Music Festival, Verbier, Switzerland, the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Norfolk, Connecticut, the Pine Mountain Music Festival, Michigan the East/West Music Academy, Altenburg, Germany and the Brecon Jazz Festival, Brecon, Wales.

Mr Kane is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver in his final thesis stage of the degree.

Professors include:

Roger Best – Royal College of Music, 1991 – 1993
Simon Rowland-Jones – Royal College of Music, 1993 – 1995
Jesse Levine – Yale University School of Music, 1995 – 1998
David Harding – University of British Columbia School of Music, 2001 – 2006 

additional links

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