Gauthier Bernard

Gauthier Bernard is a musician from Liège, originally from Verviers, who began learning the organ at the age of 10 with Patrick Wilwerth at the Conservatoire de Verviers.

He obtained his organ diploma at the Conservatoire Royal de Liège in Anne Froidebise's class. He also acquired diplomas in Classical Writing at the CRLg, bassoon at the IMEP (Namur) and carillon at the Koninklijke Beiaardschool Jef Denyn in Mechelen. He has also taken part in occasional training courses in Belgium, France and Italy.

He has long been a parish organist, first in Verviers, then in Liège. He is now the owner of the Merklin & Schyven organs at the Collégiale Saint Barthélemy and co-owner (in charge) of those at the Chapelle Saint Roch in Liège (Robustelly organ, an exceptional Walloon heritage).

He regularly performs in concert in Belgium but also in France, Germany and the Netherlands, playing the organ, bassoon, harpsichord and even the carillon as he is the owner of the instrument at the Collégiale Notre Dame de Huy and co-owner of the instrument at Liège Cathedral.

During his training as an organist, he honed his skills in English Romantic and post-Romantic music, which he also studied stylistically (he has given several lectures on the language of Ralph Vaughan Williams). Spanish and Italian pre-baroque music are two styles he is particularly fond of, and which he has already performed in concert. On several occasions, with a fellow trumpeter, they performed in concerts in repertoires ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary music.

He is also keen to compose music and pass on his knowledge by teaching this subject at the Conservatoire Royal de Liège. Several of his pieces have already been performed in concert. He teaches organ, bassoon, carillon and musical composition at academies and summer courses. At IMEP, he teaches carillon and specialized bassoon methodology.

Langues : English, French