The Massapequa Philharmonic has renewed Music Director David Bernard’s contract for three years, through 2027.
“I am excited to continue on this journey with the Massapequa Philharmonic as its Music Director,” said Bernard. “It is truly inspiring to see both the orchestra and the Long Island residents thrive through our performances and collaborations. When successful, the performing arts is a symbiosis of artists, communities, and audiences, and it has been a pleasure to work with the Massapequa Philharmonic musicians, board, and our partners to deliver on this ideal.”
Bernard was born and raised in Great Neck and performed earlier this year at Temple Emanuel in Great Neck, where he was Bar Mitzvahed. “I felt honored to be able to give back to this wonderful town that gave me so much.”
Bernard cultivated and grew his skills in New York and is an alumnus of The Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, Stony Brook University, Tanglewood, and Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
Since Bernard’s appointment in 2016, the Massapequa Philharmonic has established itself as Long Island’s premiere symphony orchestra through significant growth and acclaim.
“The Massapequa Philharmonic Orchestra is thrilled to continue working with David Bernard as our music director,” said Jennifer Trested, president of the Massapequa Philharmonic. “Under his gifted leadership, the Massapequa Philharmonic has become a premier orchestra on Long Island. David Bernard is a skillful musician and conductor, with a gift for fostering musical communities within the orchestra, throughout Massapequa, and across Long Island. We look forward to many years of insightful and artistic musical leadership and collaboration.”
Under Maestro Bernard’s leadership, the orchestra has developed deep artistic partnerships with the Eglevsky Ballet, Nassau County Museum of Art, the Massapequa Schools, and Long Island Choral Society, building its audiences and sponsor/donor base and solidifying its reputation in bringing cultural leadership to Long Island.
The leaders of various organizations who have worked with Bernard welcomed the news of his reappointment.
“David Bernard is the epitome of the kind of arts leader most needed today–a maestro whose high standards inspire all of us, a teacher of extraordinary originality, and a visionary who can unite thinkers in the visual arts, literature and music. Long Island is extremely fortunate to have a talent of his stature and gifts,” said Charles A. Riley II, PhD, curator, author of several interdisciplinary books on music, art and the humanities, and former director of the Nassau County Museum of Art.
Meanwhile, Maurice Brandon Curry, executive artistic director of the Eglevsky Ballet, said, “Maestro Bernard has a way of convincing you everything is possible! Our collaborations have been rewarding artistically, as well as for our dancers and audiences. Whether he is leading our annual production of The Nutcracker, providing chamber music for our special events or having us as guests for his innovative InsideOut concerts, you can always count on a unique audience experience.”
Bernard is the founder and director of InsideOut Concerts, Inc., a pioneer and innovator in the design, development, and production of immersive classical music events, and is the inventor of US Patent No. 11,673,070 entitled Methods and Systems for Arranging Seats for Audience Members and Musicians. Bernard’s work using these methods in concerts and events resulted in not only increased ticket sales but also increased organic new audience acquisition of both the young and old.
Vincent Green, director of Fine and Performing Arts, Massapequa Schools, praised, “The Annual InsideOut Event Maestro Bernard leads for the entire third grade is an invaluable tool to not only draw in students to our music programs but also gives them the gift of music that they will cherish for their entire lives.”
Poised for its 40th anniversary season this Fall, the Massapequa Philharmonic kicks off a series of concerts as Resident Orchestra of the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts with Rhapsody at 100: A Gershwin Celebration in July. “David Bernard has made a huge impact on culture on Long Island through his artistic vision and commitment to Long Island audiences,” said Tom Dunn, executive director of the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts. “He has been an excellent partner as we prepare for the Massapequa Philharmonic joining us as our Resident Orchestra.”
The Massapequa Philharmonic Orchestra has brought cultural leadership and exciting concerts featuring world-class soloists to Long Island’s audiences for decades — an unprecedented achievement. The Massapequa Philharmonic has built significant partnerships with the Nassau County Museum of Art and the Massapequa Public Schools, fulfilling a vision of outreach and cultural leadership across Long Island. Under Maestro Bernard, the orchestra has performed sold out shows at the Madison Theatre at Molloy College.
The Philharmonic’s 40th Anniversary Season includes its concert series in Massapequa with programs of repertoire across three centuries with world-class soloists, new works in partnership with the Long Island Composer’s Alliance, and a holiday celebration. As the Tilles Center’s Resident Orchestra, the Massapequa Philharmonic will perform an InsideOut event, as well as a multimedia presentation, “Out of this World,” featuring Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” an interactive presentation by Dr. Jackie Faherty, senior scientist and astrophysicist of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History.
For more information about the Philharmonic’s 40th Anniversary Season, visit www.massphil.com
